1-4

My daughter asked me last night if I was going to weigh on Monday.  I'm not.  I want to, though.  I want to see if a week will have made any difference at all.  But, I'm going to wait until the end of the 21 days.  The last diet I was on had me weighing daily, so at only day 4 I'm starting to wonder if this whole thing is helping.  But I've got to resist temptation!

In other news, I think I'm getting a touch of the flu.  Everything is achey and I'm tired and just feel like poo in general.  Today, just trying to stay somewhat close to my diet and not just eat crackers and ice cream is going to be a real challenge.

Breakfast:
     Decided to try shakes for breakfast today.  Hubby had the chocolate peanut butter, and I'm not really sure he's going to be a big shake fan, we'll have to see.  I had the vegan strawberry and cut up 2 servings of strawberries to go in it.  I'm noticing that I'm struggling with my fruit servings the most, so hopefully this will help.  I liked it!  A little gritty, but still better than most shakes I've had in the past.

Lunch:
     Because I felt like crap, I didn't even feel like throwing a salad together.  So I had a ham sandwich.
     Hubby was at work and had half a salad and some baked chicken.  Thankfully, they offer good things at work!

Dinner:
     I had Hubby stop and get Panera on the way home tonight.  I needed comfort food, but didn't want to go crazy.  I had a bowl of French onion soup and a piece of their French bread they serve.  I certainly hit my limit in carbs today, but didn't go over!  (I just didn't have nearly enough greens to balance it out).  Hubby had a half sandwich and salad.

Workout:
     Obviously, this is starting to be where we're really struggling the most.  Next week is going to be even harder because I'm at a conference all week.  ::sigh::  We'll just have to figure it out.

Today's Grade:  C+  ... We've still really got to get planning and our act together, but we're also still not completely falling out, and I'm really proud of that!!

1-3

Day 3 and we're doing good and going strong!  Not bad considering how busy we were today!!

Breakfast:
     I had two eggs with shrooms and cherry tomatoes, and a pinch of mozzarella cheese, and some cilantro (my favorite!) with an orange on the side ... and it was SOOO good!  Hubby was running in late to work, and I'm not sure he had breakfast *headdesk*

Lunch:
     I took Princess to the art museum today, and we had a nice girls' lunch after in Winter Park - so pretty!  I had a grilled salmon sandwich.  I probably should have taken the bread off, but it was fresh ciabatta bread and it smelled AMAZING.  Bread is my downfall, what can I say?  No carbs for the rest of the day, though!!  I had a gorgeous little side salad with raspberry vinaigrette, and Princess said it looked like Pepto Bismol.  ;)

Snack:
     Chocolate shakeology with a scoop of peanut butter.  Oh so good!

Dinner:
     Once again, work had me on the road, and Hubby was at work, so dinner was grab and go again.  OY.  But, also once again, I was able to resist the temptation of fries and junk.  We ended up at Chick-fil-a ~AGAIN~ (not even really sure how that happened).  I had grilled nuggets and the new superfood side (kale and dried berries and nuts) - and it was DELICIOUS.  Hubby had their chicken wrap, which was one of his favorite meals even before we started this diet.

I'm starting to realize that my portions are automatically getting smaller already, and that I'm definitely feeling more full than I thought I would.  For years, I'd listened to the diet gurus preach that small and healthy meals more often would fill me up and I thought it was BS propaganda.  But, seriously, they're RIGHT.  I'm full.  And the idea of eating anything else today makes me turn a little kale-green.

Workout:
     We bailed again, but mostly because we ran all over.  I did a press event at the aquarium and ran all over the place.  We're still going to keep trying, but I know we'll get better at it.

Today's grade is a solid B because I think we're finally starting to make some good choices.

1-2

Sooooo ... pretty much true to form, this diet is going to make me freaking crazy because my life is stupid.  You know, pretty much why I'm as heavy as I am.  UGH.  The chaos and the weight only work against each other and make each other worse!!!  Today was not a gold star day.  But, do you want to know did happen today?  I didn't freak out.  I didn't go off the deep end.  I'm fairly sure I wasn't in my limits, but I did NOT succumb to old habits.  YAY!

Breakfast:
     I think if we could just get this part under control, we'd be ok.  I need to take a day and bake 21DF-friendly muffins and egg cups and stuff that I can just throw in the microwave.  I've NEVER liked making breakfasts.  Love to cook, HATE making breakfast.  I could happily live on a bowl of cereal 4-5 times a week.  I seriously need to consider just doing the shakes for breakfast because blending is easier than cooking.

     We threw together scrambled eggs with shrooms and mozzarella, and had some fruit on the side.

Lunch:
     A visit from a friend right at lunchtime threw me today.  But we went to one of my local favorites - Hubbly Bubbly, and I did very well.  It is a pita / hummus / falafel joint, and it is soooo good!  I had a chicken pita with light hummus and tabouleh.  I did cheat just a bit and had a little bit of tzatziki, but it was just a tiny bit.  Hubby worked today, so had a salad and one of the sausages from last night.

Dinner:
     Everything ran late today.  My dad used to say "the hurrier I go, the behinder I get" ... that was my entire afternoon.  We ran so late, in fact, that I still hadn't had dinner by the time I went to go pick Hubby up from work, and he was absolutely starving.  We drove past five different fast food favorites, and went to Panera instead.  I had half of a steak and arugula sandwich with a cup of french onion, and Hubby had an Italian sandwich with a chicken caesar.  (I think he went way over, but that's ok.)

I didn't have time for a shake.  I just wasn't home to make it.  And we didn't work out.  We walked in the door just after 9, and we have to be up again at 5 and both of us are completely wiped.

But, again, we haven't completely blown it!  We still haven't had any sodas - HUGE YAY!!! We haven't even threatened to get pizza.  In fact, in transit today, I stopped to get the kids Chick-fil-a, and I didn't even raid the bag for fries or kill one of them for their nuggets (despite how good it smelled)!!  So, see?  We're not doing too shabby!

Grade:  C+  (because we ate out without going berserk)

Round 1 - Day 1

We got off to a rocky start this morning, so I had to call an audible.  We had planed on having chia citrus pudding for breakfast, but it didn't set.  I had run out of energy last night, so I didn't make our breakfast casserole we were planning on having a couple of days this week.  Our blender was in the freezer with frozen daiquiri in it, and we were both too hungry for shakes.  It took me a couple of minutes of sheer panic, but then I grabbed the eating plan book and made a plan.

I'll be honest, I had a moment where I thought, "screw this, we'll just start tomorrow."  But, I took a deep breath and just stopped for a moment.  I remembered everything I wrote last night about how badly I want this and need this.  And then I figured out a solution.  The first meal of the first day and I'm already realizing how difficult this is going to be.  Planning is difficult and takes work.  This will take devotion and thought.  But, I also learned something else this morning:  it is NOT impossible.  I just have to be prepared and think a little.  And I can do that.

Breakfast:
     2 eggs cooked over hard with a touch of sea salt and pepper
     Me - 1 small banana
     Hubby - 4 strawberries

Snack:
     Chocolate shakeology - the first time I drank the shakes, I wanted them to be plain so I knew what they'd taste like.  It wasn't bad.  They're not great, let's be honest.  But it wasn't as bad as I had it built up in my head.

Lunch:
     Salad - spinach, matchstick carrots, cherry tomatoes, sliced chicken, sunflower seeds, vinaigrette

Snack:
     Cottage cheese

Dinner:
     Kale and Italian Sausage skillet meal - We forgot the parmesan cheese, DOH!  We really liked it.  The big kids and the littlest one decided they don't like cooked kale and would prefer to either eat it raw or as chips.  I've got the weirdest kids ;)

Water:  
     Not even close.  Holy cow.  Sooooo much water.  On the upside, I'm fairly certain I burned 250 calories just running to the bathroom!

Workout:
     Upper body - We didn't do too bad.  We wanted to do our workout really early in the day, but circumstances kicked us to the curb.  10:30 at night, we got out there and busted it out, though.  The first time I do a video, I'm always a little unsure.  It takes me a bit to get used to the trainer and the rhythm.  We did stop a few times and watch, I won't lie.  But we didn't walk away, and we're looking forward to doing legs tomorrow.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Today's grade:  Solid C - we have a long way to improve with organization and motivation, but we never gave up.

The Beginning

Round 1

Yca ... 

     Chest:     48
     R. Arm:     16
     L. Arm:     18
     Waist:     57.5
     Hips:     60
     R. Thigh:     26
     L. Thigh:     27

     Total Inches:     252.5
     Weight:     298

     Goal:  I've been overweight my entire life.  I've never felt attractive.  I was always the fat kid.  I turn 40 next year, and for my birthday I would like to be able to wear a bikini.  Now, I'm not crazy, even if I do lose all the weight, I will probably still not have the perfect "beach body".  Even if I never leave the house with it on, I still want to be able to be comfortable in one in my own backyard.


Hubby ...

     Chest:     41.5
     R. Arm:     13
     L. Arm:     12.5
     Waist:     40.5
     Hips:     38
     R. Thigh:     21.5
     L. Thigh:     20.5

     Total Inches:     187.5
     Weight:     190

     Goal:  I don't want to lose a lot of weight, but I want to be a healthier weight.  I'm a diabetic and I have high blood pressure, and it would be great if I could battle both of those things without meds.

Misc Family ...

     In addition to the two of us losing weight, we're having the entire family join in because they have some goals they'd like to reach as well.  Might as well make this an entire family affair, right?  

     Disclaimer!!!!!!  I want to be VERY clear here, so that no one freaks out.  We ARE NOT putting our children on a diet.  We won't be weighing them, we won't be measuring them.  We will be cooking the same dinner for everyone that is in alignment with the 21-day fix.  They will additional options available to them if they'd like.  They are more than welcome to join us for our breakfasts and lunches, or they can choose something they'd like to eat.  We will still be buying them all of their normal treats, except there will be a decrease in processed sugars and an increase in fruits and veggies.  (I will also be ridding the house of all of my addictions, because I am a sucker to temptation.)  They have also expressed interested in some of the exercises we'll be doing, and are more than welcome to join us as they please.  We are very excited to teach them that we can change our lifestyle, and even parents have to learn new things sometimes.  

     ~  Red has gained the ever-dreaded "squishy video game belly".  Even though he's still fairly lean and he's still not growing yet, he wants to try and curb a bad situation and become more physically active.  Additionally, he's been having some other struggles and he thinks a better diet and working out would benefit him greatly.

     ~  Princess has spent the last 2 years serving as the coxswain to the middle school rowing team.  Next year, she moves into high school and practices that are six days a week.  She knows she needs more protein and a better diet so that she'll be able to function properly.  She has her heart set on the Olympics, and wants to do it the right way.

     ~  Fluffy is ... well ... a little fluffy.  We are scared that, like us, she's going to be the chubby kid.  We want her to be more active and learn how to make smarter choices now, so that she doesn't have to face all of the bullying and shame that we did.  

     ~  Sir Smiley is starting to get a little picky about some of his foods, and we want him to return to the experimental foodie he started to be.  We want him to love veggies and not just push them around the plate.  Hopefully, some of these new foods we'll be trying will encourage that.

Let me get this straight ...

... two and a half years ago, I posted a mere handful of posts and then pretty much gave up.  Pathetic.  I'm tempted to delete them, but I think I'll leave them up there to remind myself just how quickly I give up on things.  How many times I've tried and failed.

Tomorrow, I start Beachbody's 21-day Fix and Shakeology program.  The difference this time?  I'm not alone.  Hubby is doing the diet with me, and the rest of the family will be participating as well.  For the first time, I don't feel like I'm alone and it is just up to me.  I mean, I've been a part of great groups (one group of ladies in particular that I LURVE), but they're online and not here to smack the burger and fries out of my hand, not here to help me chop up all the healthy foods I need to eat, and not here to drag my arse into the living room to work out.  And sometimes?  Sometimes I really need that.

My good friend (and Beachbody Coach) RD has been doing this diet for quite some time now, and is finding great success.  She warned me this would be hard.  Last night, we sat down and opened all the boxes and started going through all the pamphlets and I very quickly got overwhelmed.  This is going to be VERY HARD.  But, it isn't going to be impossible.  So, we made a grocery list for a couple of days, and then went to Target to get some new weights and yoga mats.  I made a calendar to track our meals and workouts for the next few days.

And, you know what?  I'm excited.  I'm really, truly excited.

Later today, we're going to weigh, take measurements, and our before/after photos, and I'm going to post all of that separately along with our goals.  For now, I just wanted to take a minute to just reflect on how much I truly struggled over the years, and how desperately I want to succeed this time.  And for the first time ever, I see that it is actually in reach.

See?  Excited.