30 lbs. down and 100 days logged

100 days ago I publicly declared I needed to lose weight.  You can read that here.   I had a vague idea of what to do.
Get motivated.
Tell other people (family and the blogosphere) I was planning to get in shape.
Eat healthier.
Exercise more.
Make goals so I know if I'm winning or losing.

I had no idea what a difference how invaluable Fat2FitRadio podcasts would play in my journey.  They have played a HUGE role in my healthier thinking and healthier lifestlye.

I drank minimum of 8 glasses of water a day.  In fact, there were probably only 2 days that I drank that little.  Usually I drank 12-14 glasses.  Sometimes I drank 16.  Once I had 20. 

I learned that I should keep my sodium intake below 2300 mg. 

I ate my 5 a day fruits and vegetables.  There were only a handful of days I didn't get enough. 

I learned that I did NOT want to lose weight fast.  My goal was to lose 1% of body weight per week to make sure I wasn't losing muscle and inhibiting my metabolism. 

When things slowed down and I didn't seem to be losing even half a percent a week, I UPPED my calories and dropped the weight. 

I averaged (while nursing an infant) 2200-2600 calories daily. 

I didn't deprive myself.  I learned about portion sizes.  I discovered that if something was low-fat there was a good chance it was either high in sugar or sodium. 

I tried to eat whole foods with less processing.  But I am busy and a mother of 7 and therefore must be realistic with my time and money.  Oftentimes, sadly, processed foods are much cheaper.  Happily, they are making less of an appearance in our home and meals. 

I did eat Cheetos, ice cream, butter, fast food, even French Fries a handful of times.  But I kept things in check.  I didn't order the large fries or just eat Cheetos out of the bag.  I measured out portions so I could make an accurate journal entry.  I realized that oftentimes, one serving was plenty for me. 

So, yeah.  I didn't feel deprived.  I don't feel like a slave to the food scale or label.  I feel like it's liberated me. 

Now, after measuring so often, I can eyeball portion sizes pretty accurately. 

I find myself craving vegetables and fresh fruit more.

I'm not as tired in the afternoon.  2-3 p.m. used to be my low-energy, low-motivation and self-control time.  It was the time of day I was most likely to eat processed junk food or candy for a pick-me-up. 

Here's to the next 100 days!

In which I throw proper grammar out the window and give a Hawaii update.

Flew four times with Peach.  She's a good passenger.  No ear problems or anything with take-off and landing.

Used approximately 27 tissues at my grandma's funerals.  Yes,  that's right.  She had two funerals.  What was extra sad was realizing after the first one, I was going to bawl again the next day.  What was sad after the second was realizing she was being buried.  officially. 

I celebrated my 13th wedding anniversary this past Monday snorkeling at Shark's Cove in Hawaii.  I wished Danny was there with me.  But I had a good time once I got past the anxiety of sticking my face in the water and breathing in.  phew.  I regret I didn't bring one of those disposable under-water cameras.

My awesome photographer sister took bunches of pictures in front of the Laie, Hawaii temple.  We (sisters and parents) got new headshots for blogs and Facebook.  I don't do Facebook-- so you can see me here. 

Weighed in this morning and found I've lost 20.2 lbs. so far!

Had a bad spell of vertigo for a couple days in Hawaii.  I think it was exacerbated by the heat and humidity of Hawaii, flying in airplanes, and riding in the back seat with Peach while my dad drove us around the islands.

Got four mosquito bites.  This is good for me.  Usually I get dozens.

Had a good time with lots of family-- especially my cute nieces and nephews.

Miss the haupia pie from McDonalds and the Portuguese sausage, eggs, and rice breakfast they also serve.  My thighs will be glad they don't serve it here though.  ;)

So glad to be back in my own bed with California's reasonable humidity level.  haha

Au9ust in num8er5

8 - days until I go to Hawaii

88 - years my Grandma lived

1 - kid I'm taking to Hawaii with me- Peach

2 - my kids having a birthday this month while I'm gone

2 - how old those two buddies are turning while I'm away

♥ 13 ♥ - years of marriage this month (again while I'm gone)

140 - disposable diapers Danny will need while I'm gone

9 - toes cooperating with me

17.4 - the number of pounds I've lost to date :)

Too many calories, not enough time to eat them

Yesterday I posted about increasing my calories per day so I wasn't losing too much per week- thus protecting my metabolism from thinking it needs to go into starvation mode. 

But last night I found myself with loads of calories left after eating well all day.  I was trying to think of what I could eat to use those calories.  I had raw broccoli with a little cream cheese.  I made the cake bites for Bun's birthday party and had a little of that.  I had Cheetos.  I had pizza.  And I was like,

This is NOT the way to do it! If I have to eat junk food just to get enough calories according to what I thought logically would work, I'm not going to lose weight.

So, I've decided 2700 is too much.  And yes, that does include my 500 calories for nursing Peach.  But a base of 2200 is still too much. 

Then while showering this morning I just kept thinking,

I didn't need to jump a whole 500 calories a day.  I'm just going to increase it 100 calories today and reevaluate after a  day or two.

My weight loss journey

As you can see on my ticker, I've lost 12 lbs.  These 12 pounds have come off a lot faster than I anticipated and planned.  Don't get me wrong, I LOVE seeing the scale drop lower every single day.  But I suspect it's affecting my metabolism, and I don't want a paralyzed metabolism.

I'm not starving.  I never feel hungry.  I have been eating between 2100-2300 calories a day.  I'm also nursing exclusively Baby Peach.  So that makes it like I'm eating 1800ish calories a day. 

I'm drinking 12-14 glasses of water a day (8 oz. glasses).

I'm keeping my sodium within the 2500 mg recommendation.  And the weight is falling off.

I've been listening to an awesome Podcast called Fat2Fit Radio.  Have you heard of it?  It's a free show and there's also a website to read about their advice and experiences.  It's educational and motivational and sensible.

Now, like I've mentioned previously, I would love to be a size 6 jeans right now, but I want to do this right.  I want to make a permanent change.  I don't want to worry about my metabolism slowing down thinking my body is in starvation mode.

After calculating my Basal Metabolic Rate and my goal body weight, I've changed my goal weight slightly to be 7 lbs. heavier than I thought it should be.  So I only have to lose a total of 78 lbs. instead of 85 lbs.  Which means 66 lbs. to go!

As far as not indulging in emotional eating, I've been talking a lot to my sister who is also using MFP (myfitnesspal.com) and to Danny, of course.  Talk, talk, talk and then there's less eating and guilt.

So, my plan for keeping my metabolism in check is to up my daily calories.  The new plan is 2700 calories.  We'll see how I feel about that in a week.

Thanks for listening.  Feel free to give your own two cents or ask questions.  :P

"You deserve a fat wife."

Did I seriously just say that?!

If you know your wife is trying to eat healthier and lose weight, it is not cool to call her up and ask her to swing by Burger King to grab a burger and fries for your dinner so you can stay late at the office.  Not cool at all. 

Nikki -  doing it +10 points, adding a guilt trip -5, not eating a single fry +5
Danny - suggesting such a temptation -10 points, saying thank you +5, staying late so he doesn't have to go in tomorrow +10

I promised not to tell him until he's finished eating his dinner how much sodium is in that Tendercrisp Chicken Sandwich.  (1640 mg)

You all are too kind.

Seriously, I DO need to lose 85 pounds.  I'm not setting my goal weight as extremely low either.  And I don't have the guts to blog right now how much I weigh.  But when I'm done, I'll clue you all in and you can gasp a collected gasp of "OmigoshbutsheneverSOUNDEDthatfat."

With that said, I don't really need to lose 85 pounds anymore.  It's 77 pounds now.  Isn't that AWESOME?!

I joined MyFitnessPal.com (MFP) on June 10th.  It's a free site that you use to log your food and exercise and encourage one another.  My sister Leslie told me about it.  My initial goal when joining MFP, was to just log everything I eat for 100 days.  I wasn't going to worry about how many calories I was eating over the recommended or anything.  I was just going to write it down.  I figured it would probably cause me to eat healthier and be aware of serving sizes.

But then there were all these amazing success stories on there that inspired me to set some weight goals.  That's when I decided on my goal weight.  And I broke down the weight-loss into manageable mini-goals complete with rewards-- none of which are edible. 

This week I decided to up my water intake and learn about recommended sodium levels.  Boy were my eyes opened!  Just google "recommended sodium levels per day" and you'll see for yourself.  Just how savvy are you when it comes to recommended sodium levels?

My weakness is not sweets.  Sure I love candy and desserts and can be somewhat of a chocoholic.  But when I find myself eating and eating well beyond a reasonable serving, it usually involves savory foods.  I LOVE garlic.  I LOVE butter.  I LOVE cheese.  I LOVE pizza.  And, well, I'll just stop this food-talk or I'm going to start thinking of these things too much.  You get the point. 

There's a reason I'm fat and it's not the kids.  I was fat before Pookie was born.  I'm an emotional eater. 

So now I'm on a journey to handle my emotions better. 

I'm learning to make healthier snack and meal choices and I'm LOVING the challenge it brings.

Sure it would be awesome for the weight to just instantly come off right now and be able to wear size 6 jeans again, but I want to make this a healthy lifestyle change.  I want my kids to learn to eat healthy and to learn how to handle their emotions in a healthy manner so they don't find themselves in the same boat as an adult.

So I'm okay with not being at my goal weight yet.  I imagine in the year I've set out for myself to burn the weight off, I'm going to learn a lot about who I am and I'm going to fall in love with exercise again.

A low-cal snack with very little bite.

It's strange how tastes can change.  It wasn't until Hammy was about six weeks old that I started liking watermelon.  We were on vacation in Utah.  That was four years ago. 

And this week (maybe it's the pool time or heat of the summer) I have purchased four seedless watermelons from the commissary.  Not all at the same time, mind you.  I purchased one.  Then a couple days later the second one.  Then yesterday I decided, What the heck I have an extra fridge, why not get two??

Now I want to make this creation. 

picture from here.

Is it not the most awesomest thing you have ever seen?  It's going to make Danny laugh.  or cringe.  He has an irrational fear of sharks.  haha.

In which I publicly declare "It's time to lose weight!"

Dear Nikki and Danny friends, followers, and family,

I'm on a mission to eat healthier and lose weight.  Visiting my family for the past week and a half plus attending two weddings and three receptions has not helped.  No indeed.

My family, bless their hearts, have a comfortable relationship with food. 

We're happy.  Have some food!
I haven't seen you in ten years.  Have some food!
It's a wedding.  Come eat food!
It's a party.  Eat!  Eat!
Aunty said you're looking chubby.  Eat some food to drown your sorrows!
Strawberries are on sale.  Let's make pie!
You're on vacation.  Eat some food!

Please do not blog your delicious brownies because I will have to make my own-- complete with cream cheese-- and proceed to eat half the pan by myself. 

Please do not blog horrible in-laws stories or potty-training nightmares-- because it will give me anxiety and I will return to the pan of brownies and proceed to drown out my anxiety with another piece.

Don't tell me about the deals you got on Cheetos using a coupon or whatnot.  I'll have to "save" too by adding to my waistline. 

You may:

Choose to follow me in my journey and leave comments filled with awesome low-fat meals that are frugally minded too

Leave encouraging comments that will boost me up and keep me going

Come visit me so I feel the "omigosh my bestest blogging pal is going to meet me in real life and now I seriously need to lose weight" encouragement.

So, now that you're all curious, and likely will go back through 800ish posts to find a picture of me (good luck), I have 85 pounds to lose.  85!

Even if you don't need to lose or maybe just want to lose 10 lbs. or less, I appreciate all encouragement and LOVE to hear success stories and what worked for you, or your neighbor. ;)

Sincerely,
Chubba-Me.