Snapshot Saturday & Weight loss crap

While looking at this photograph, my daughter announced, "There Daddy! Hi!" What a way to boost a 

self-conscious mom's self esteem. It shouldn't have bugged me, considering she calls both Tom and I daddy now..

I am at 25 lbs lost. Before I get the "way to go"s and "your doing great", wait a minute. That means I've only lost 5 lbs since December 6th. I need to step up to the plate. Thursday night I ran a 5k on the treadmill making another personal best.

37 minutes 20 seconds

Average speed: 4.9  mph

Average mile: 12 minutes 14 seconds

2 minute cool down at the end, making it 39 minutes, 20 seconds

Burned 750 calories

I started out struggling to do 50 crunches. I am not averaging around 375 each time I do them, I try for 500
My only problem is over the past 2-3 months my servings sizes crept back to where they used to be. And I've gone from hitting the gym 5-6 days a week to 1-3. Not good. Not good at all.

But when I look at a photo like that one up there, I can actually see some progress. Now, I know I really need to work harder on my legs, upper arms, and tummy.

20 lbs GONE!

On October 6th of this year, I was 204 lbs. 

These photo's were taken 11 days later at 199.5 lbs.

As of yesterday, December 6th, exactly 2 months later I've lost........

20 lbs!

My very 1st mile on the treadmill, took me over 20 minutes.

Yesterday I did my shortest mile yet, 12:20 minutes! It was hard but I pushed through it!

I haven't been tracking my calories, but am still following portions listed on the packages. 

I still cannot believe my "old" size bowl of ice cream was four times the recommend serving size.

I am still hitting the gym a minimum of four times a week, plus working out with the Wii Fit Plus, Wii Active, and Golds Gym Cardio Workout. 

Now, I am just 5 lbs away from leaving an "obese" BMI and moving to the "over weight" catagory.

It hurts to be excited about being "over weight," but I'll take "over weight" over "obese" any day!

Cucumber and Chicken Salad

Whenever we have left over chicken breast I like to make chicken salad for the next day's lunch. Each time it tastes different and is made differently depending on what fresh produce and spices we have on hand at the time.

This time I actually measured everything I used. You must try this! I am eating it right now and there is a huge party in my tummy!

1/2 C shredded/diced left over chicken breast

1/2 C diced cucumber, I cut our the centers as I do not like the seeds.

1 pinch of each of the following: sea salt, ground black pepper, garlic powder, parsley.

1 TBSP Hellman's mayo

Mix with fork.

Total Calories: 216

I toasted two slices of Weight Watcher's 100% Whole Wheat (Thank's to WIC) and put half on each pieces of toast. Add in a bottle of water and 10 baby carrots, cut long ways into 4 pieces w/ 1.5 tbsp of Italian Dressing and you have a great lunch containing protein, veggies, and good carbs, plus your water! All for under 500 calories! Next time I will only use half of the chicken and cucumber salad and once slice of toast as I am currently over full! Whoa! Me? Over full on a lunch of just 439 calories? Crazy!

Now seriously, Doesn't this just look absolutely delish? 

(Notice, this is after I had already eaten one slice of wheat covered in this yummy goodness!)

Oh and the best part of homemade chicken salad: So yummy with diced celery and bell peppers (red, green and orange really brighten it up making it look amazing!), also, crushed almonds!

Week 3

I am in my 3rd week of actively watching my portion sizes and working out. Also started the 3rd week of Couch to 5 K.

After feeling pretty sore all week and pushing through I had a lazy weekend. Meaning I stayed away from the gym, stuck to On-Demand videos and the Wii Fit.

The 5 K was amazing. To see so many people in one place for one cause. I was invited by a friend for a breast cancer walk. With each lap we got faster, ending with a 58 minute walk. (Not counting the time we stopped and waited for the rest of the Edible Arrangement's team.) I am looking forward to trying to do a MS walk in April. I'd love to walk for something that hits close to home.

 I watched my portions all weekend but ate a bunch of crap. I was convinced the scale would be much higher this morning. But it was 2 lbs less! Eight lbs lost since October 6th!

Today was day 1 of the 3rd week for C25K. So hard, pushed through, ran extra 90 seconds! 30 minutes, 1.88 miles hitting the mile mark at 15:20. Between that and the scale going down instead of up, it's been a happy day.

My current mini goal is to have a 10 lb total weight loss by November 6th, my one month mark. I am still struggling with portions. Like instant oatmeal? I usually make 3 packets. I was doing just one for a bit there, but have snuck back up to two. I am still working on the portions with everything else though and doing okay! Heck, Saturday night Thomas and Eddie (nephew) had mini reese's and reese's pieces! I could have snuck out half from each bag, but instead I just stole exactly one portion from each. Tasted oh so good!

Now onto progress pictures (don't mind the grumpy expressions):

Week 2:

 Week 3:

Still going strong!

Girl Scouts Tag-A-Long(R) Smoothie

MMM! I have been a smoothie whore for the past three weeks or so and am currently out of yogurt so I went scouring the web for something new and came across this PB Smoothie Recipe:

1 banana
3 tbsp. PB (smooth or crunchy) -I chose crunchy
2 tbsp choc. syrup
1 cup milk
ice (enough to get whatever texture you want, I did 6 cubes)

I decided since I had girl scout cookies to add a row (5 cookies) of tag-a-longs to mine. Wow! You have gotta like peanut butter a lot to enjoy this but my goodness, it is yummy! SOOOO creamy and peanut butter-y! I love it. Also, added 1/2 cup of uncooked old fashioned oatmeal to give it texture since it was so creamy lol

Off to enjoy the rest.

Just FYI, I have been enjoying 2 smoothies per day as replacements for breakfast and lunch as a way to get in calories for breastfeeding and making sure they are healthy calories for the most part (not so much with adding 2.5 servings of cookies lol)

Motivation, Planning, & Routine

Motivation: Is my flabby bulging tummy, fat arms, thunder thighs, and my jeans that are tighter now than one week post-partum.

Plan: Eat right and exercise

Routine: I have no idea! Anyone have any suggestions on healthy ways for a busy, nursing mommy to lose weight?

I know I have to diet w/o cutting calories. I cannot focus on calories, I just have to stop eating junk and start making healthy choices. I need to stop eating a whole Halloween bag of Reese's, I should have PB on wheat crackers or toast.

As for exercise, I plan on hitting the gym eventually as my cousin's guest as he told me I could. It's getting the courage to go there. For now I have walking and the Wii. I have Wii fit, which I plan on doing the balancing, yoga, and areobic's to work on my posture and flexibility; and Gold's Gym Cardio Workout, which I plan on using to burn kcal's. It is all boxing which is awesome to get out my frustration in a healthy manner. I also plan on doing yoga a few times a week in the early morning or before bed or both.

I need to figure out how to do all this without jeopardizing my nursing relationship with my baby girl, and I will!