I hear ya. I used to get a turkey bella burger out at rubys tuesdays like once a week. I thought it was healthy because it was turkey..1200 calories..not so healthy...we eat out alot. I wasnt willing to give that up. I just eat all my food on the weight watcher,or guiltless menus most places have. They list the calories on those menus so im aware of what I am eating. I also could down 5 pieces of papa johns pizza before..now I dont touch the stuff. Someday I will have one piece lol

In regards to the meal replacement shake, I've been using at as a replacement for a meal during the current the day. If I do over eat one day, I may cut back but probably will go about things the way I am right now. I may just have more fruit/veggies and drink even more water if anything.

I appreciate all the input (on both sides). In everyday life I like to search out the pros/cons and various views before I decide which one I stand by.

Lookin good !!!

You are handling the everyday tortures well..

I havent really been in the situation of having to eat out, or be somewhere when I got hungry enough to have to look for food yet...I hope I dont have to be tempted for quite while......

go girl,

Today was bitter-sweet. I spent the afternoon at my vacant grandmother's house installing new bath towel bars and bathroom light fixture. The house has really turned around with new paint and vinyl windows. The tile and carpet are set to start being installed on Wednesday. It's almost like a gift but she'll never be able to appreciate it. She passed away in April. Since the place was left to my mother, she and I have been working at getting it ready to sell. New windows, paint, fixtures, tile, carpet... it's finally almost done. Being over there today was a bit harder than before since today would have been her 93rd birthday.

It's strange to think that it's only been a few months since I saw her take her last breath but it feels like forever since she was the woman I really knew. I think it went down hill around 88 when she had a stroke and then became less independent and increasingly more out of it... Once she was placed into a board & care home I knew it would never be the same. Her personality changed and she just seemed to be distant. I'm sure her mind was failing...finally catching up to her failing body.

Being in her home, modernized by the beige paint and her old blue carpeting half way ripped up, I could still envision her the way she once was. She had so many mannerisms and an uncanny presence. I find it strange how my mother jokes to me about how much I seem like her (mostly in the foods I like): bananas (she had 1 every day for as long as I can remember), apple sauce, pears.... I once would take the reference as more of an insult but now I am more honored. She did endure and experience quite a bit from being a single mother to traveling and living out quite a long life, which I'm sure was painful in her later years.

All in all, I guess today was a day of remembrance.




I was able to take my mind off of my grandmother in the evening when I convinced my friend to go to a Hip Hop Dance class at the gym with me. "But I only dance when I'm drunk..." lol I reassured her of my 2 left feet and how white I am with no rhythm and we went. The unfortunate part about the class is that we were the only newbies there. So... we were kind of left behind with all the dance moves since the instructor was going a little fast with everything. Here I am, trying my hardest to do the moves and keep up while my friend is laughing at me, "Are you looking at yourself in the mirror? It's hilarious!"

We ended up leaving about 15 min before the 60min class ended. We hit some of the machines but she couldn't stop making me laugh so the work out was a bit weak. I even managed to slam my finger with a weight since I was laughing at what she was saying.
On a better note: we plan to do the TBK class tomorrow even though I practically died from it on Friday. I'm sure that's a class she'll get a "kick" out of too.

Enough writing for one night. On to the good stuff....

August 25th, Monday
Breakfast: Meal replacement shake: (230 cal)
Lunch: Other 1/2 of my italian chopped salad & 2 pieces of toast (500 cal)
Snack during physical labor: Luna bar (180 cal)
Snack after physical labor: 2 chorizo sausage patties-I've never had chorizo before (250 cal)
Dinner: Low-fat yogurt (70 cal)
Dessert: 100 calorie pack

Total calories: 1330

Just wanted to say, keep it up, I love reading your posts, they are very real. Sorry About your Grandmother. Mine was a truly classy lady who passed away a couple of years ago. It was her time, but I miss her.

Because of back issues, have you looked into water aerobics, or even swimming? Very low impact, but highly effective. Just a thought. Cycling's my thing, but I can see where that could be an issue with disk problems.

There is no better way to honor a passed loved one, than to rememebr and reflect.

great job at the workout...lol....I can totally picture the dancing then looking in the mirror...I am definately not a dancer...so I can relate.

hope you didnt mess up the finger too bad.....I hate smashing fingers...lol...happens a lot to me.....(*klutz)

see ya !!

Thanks for the complement. I try to keep things real in my everyday life, so it's only natural that they would follow me onto this forum.

I've thought about swimming and I LOVE swimming, it's just that I'm too embarrassed to go near a public pool. I kick myself for not utilizing the pool as much as I should have at my old house since it was in our backyard. I've thought about swimming & treading water but it's so hard for me with contact lenses and not even having a proper suit. I've looked at buying a new suit just for exercising but they're all so damn expensive. The only things I have are from when I was thinner... bikini tops & cute board shorts. I tried putting them back on and was horrified that my big butt couldn't fit into the shorts anymore. When I find a decent 1 piece or tankini at a reasonable price I'll consider going with my friend to the pool at the gym or at her apartment complex.

I completely agree that swimming would be a great work out for having a back injury. When it comes to cycling, I stick to the recumbent bike since it's easier on my back than the more aggressive sitting positioned ones.

Dang it... I really want to go swimming right now. lol


Haha... you would have been laughing your ass off if you saw me trying to do these dance moves! I was trying to be serious about it, which only made it that much funnier.

My finger was only sore last night but it's fine now. And yeah... I'm a complete klutz too.

Motivation is the key. I don't doubt you will lose that weight and get the body you want. Is the Wii fit game really helps though? I see my best-friend using it, maybe not as much as he should, but fairly enough and still hasn't lost anything I can really see? I guess I did lose some weight but just a little... so I'm wondering, except for weighing, does it really help?

The Wii Fit actually does help you become more aware of your body and posture. There are balance tests, yoga, strength exercising, aerobics, and balance games. Each one targets a different area and you do get a work out - IF you do it and do enough of it. It's a great way to keep track of your weight/BMI and see progress on a graph. Just doing the hula hooping really works your core. They take you through lunges/plank, yoga poses (breathing, warrior, half-moon, tree, sun salutation, etc) and how your balance needs to be during them. You can't get that kind of information during a class at the gym.

It's basically one of those things where you really can't knock it until you try it. AND.. it looks so easy but it's actually not. Plus, it's fun to do and you can get reluctant people to try it out and get active. Each person can have their account passworded if they so please (like me) if they're embarrassed about their stats.

Oh.. and one last thing... you can also add in info about activities you did outside of the wii fit.

I got my friend to actually go with me to the Turbo Kickboxing class today. It was pretty fun since I had already been to one class and kind of knew what to expect. Thankfully, this class was doing the same routine as the other one I did so I wasn't completely lost. She, on the other hand, was pretty lost and her ankle was acting up (she broke it and currently has pins in it). She lasted about 30 min then left to go on the treadmill and walk it off. I felt so good when the instructor came to me during the break to give me a high-five for staying even though my friend left. It made me feel really good and made me try harder during the "turbo" high energy rounds. I ended up leaving about 10 min early to do some upper body machines and to make sure my friend's ankle was still okay.

I think I'll stick with the class since it's AWESOME cardio and really challenges me. I hope I can find the classes that fit in with my school schedule when that starts back up next week.



August 26th, Tuesday
Breakfast: Scrambled egg substitute with a plum and strawberries (130 cal)
Breakfast Drink: Glass of 1% milk (150 cal)
Lunch: 1/2 cup non-fat cottage cheese (100 cal) & grape tomatoes (20 cal)
Snack: Some Costco free samples (150 cal)
Dinner: Home made taco salad (450 cal)

Total Calories: 1000

That sounds like a great class. It's always more fun to workout with people, nice to see you have a friend that comes out with you.

I work out with my Mother everyday. She is 59 years old and obese and she wouldn't be doing anything if I didn't get her to come out every day. Motivation comes from within, but sometimes a bit of it comes from outside influence.

I'm trying to find a way to influence my mom to change her eating habits and to exercise. She knows she should and wants to, but just... doesn't. She'll be 61 this October and her doctor told her to watch her sugars since she's close to being diabetic. I don't consider her to be "obese" event though her BMI more than likely says that. I worry about her. She's already gone through a mastectomy and is a breast cancer survivor, needs another back surgery (disc issues), needs a shoulder replacement (bone spurs since there's no more cartilage to prevent bone on bone rubbing), and I'm sure there's other things too. I know that she struggles with pain like I do when it comes to trying to exercise. I've been trying to get her to cut back on her favorite snacks like popcorn and sunflower seeds since they're both loaded with calories. I'm really at wit's end with trying to find ways to convince her.

I think maybe a heart to heart is in order, but even then I don't know if she'll want to change her lifestyle like I have.

On a positive note, I lost another 2 lbs!

I think that when I hit 10lbs I'll take my measurements again. I haven't really noticed much of a change except that I feel more confident and energized. I just feel healthier! I love it!

My initial goal I set for myself (although I don't think I put it in my journal) was to lose about 2 lbs a week. So far I'm actually keeping up with that. I can't believe I'm actually sticking to this.... Finally!!

Today has already been fairly active. I met my friend at the gym and we did our basic routine:
Recumbent bike (only 20 min today about 4 miles)
Hip abductor machine
Back strengthening
Shoulder machines
Free weights for curls, lifting, and to work the triceps.
Ab machine

Then I walked my dogs around my neighborhood and let them run around in some vacant lots. I chased them around a little bit.

I was thinking about going back to gym tonight, but I think I'll lay low instead. I can feel the work out I did today settling in and I plan to try to do the core strengthening class and amp'd abs tomorrow followed by TKB Friday morning before work. I definitely don't want to over due it even though I'm excited to go work out!

I'll have to edit this later, but I wanted to see how I was doing on calories so far for today.

August 27th, Wednesday
Breakfast: Meal replacement shake (230 cal)
Lunch: Wrap with ground turkey, lettuce, olive, onion, feta, and italian dressing (450 cal)
Snack: 1/2 cup of low-fat cottage cheese (100 cal) and a few pieces of toasted baguette (100 cal)
Snack Drink: Special K Protein Water Pouch (30 cal)
Dinner: 2 homemade ground turkey enchiladas (about 400 cal)
Dessert: 100 calorie pack

Total Calories: 1410

Keep up the good work!! My unofficial goal was to lose 2 lbs a week also. I'm close (7 lbs in 4 weeks), so I'll call it a win.

BTW, what is your take on those Special K water mixes. I'mm on the fence. I like the fact that they add some protein, particularly right after a work out, but I'm not overly fond of the taste...