DOWN 2!?

I can't believe it, but I'm down 2 more lbs!!! Putting the total for the weight loss challenge at 4.2 lbs lost.  I weighed in at 147.6 and am super thrilled.  I also bought some protein powder while I was there to add to my shakes.

That puts me at 2.8% lost!

Weight UNKNOWN?!

It's MONDAY - official challenge weigh in day and I have no idea what I weigh - every morning (except today) I have jumped on the scale.  But, after 2 all day graduation celebrations and Hubby making me shrimp scampi and buttered artichoke hearts on Saturday night (I love him AND I hate him!!!), I'm really nervous.  Since there's nothing I can do at this point but face the music, I'm going in blind and crossing my fingers.

I WAS down a pound earlier in the week... let's hope it holds and I don't gain!

That said, it has been super hard this weekend and I know I'm going to have to do a lot more to master the parties because in the summer, they are like every weekend -- and usually there are swimsuits (GASP!) involved.  I didn't feel like I overate yesterday, but I have the "I ate too much sodium puffy face" today.  Yuck!  The odd thing is that I DID drink water, but just not enough to compensate for all the grab and go quick foods (potato chips, deli meats...).

I'll update my progress after I weigh in.

Yesterday's success + today's commitment = tomorrow's victory

I was pretty pumped after yesterday's weigh in... and even though it's counter productive, I did splurge a tad to celebrate - I bought the chili and lime flavored almonds (I know... not really splurging), ate an extra taco at dinner and enjoyed the last of the Daddy Cakes (which we really took too long to eat - they were getting tad stale).

I THINK I might even be able to win - last time the prize was $900 for first and the winner lost 15 % of his bodyweight.  I've lost 1.4% in the first week.  If I lose 20 lbs, I'll be at 13.2% lost - and that's in contention.  If I lose just 2 lbs more, it boosts me to 14.5%.  Even if I don't win and only lose 12 lbs, I'll still be happy I'm on my way, but in my mind, I'm already at a shopping trip at Dillards!!!

I'm positive, focused and motivated -- and on my way to returning to my pre-pregnancy physique!

A new plan

I'm very frustrated.  Hubby's traveling now, which will  become the norm, and I can't get my exercise in! Until baby is 6 weeks and can go to the nursery at the gym, I'm at his mercy.  I think, to help, I'm going to see if the lovely lady across the street wouldn't mind keeping an eye on him a few times a week when Hubby's traveling.  She watches her granddaughter (4) on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and they seem really excited about the baby. 

Yesterday was Lil' Q's 6th birthday!  And, I managed to somewhat follow my new diet plan.  I  made and ate my first shake for breakfast and got Subway for lunch (I brought Lil Q Subway to school and ate with her for her special day). After that, I splurged on a few snacks after getting shake supplies at the store - apples with reduced fat PB, low fat string cheese... nothing bad, but it tipped me higher than I would have liked.  Especially since my mom came out and we had cake and ice cream.  I kept portions small, and think I ended under 1800 (hard to calculate exact). But, it wasn't great because I didn't get my water and I wasn't down again this morning.

Today, I plan to at least get a stroller walk in.  Can't wait until he big enough to get into the running stroller!  Walking is better than nothing, and maybe I can squeeze a Pilates tape in too -- I hate falling behind, but this will have to do for now.

New HOPE

I admit it, my frustration was overtaking my motivation... which started out soaring.  After two weeks and seeing zero progress on the scale (WTF!!!???), I decided to call in some experts.  Yesterday, I went to an informational meeting for an Herbalife sponsored Weight Loss Challenge -- and yes, their are cash prizes, but I'm focused right now on the great benefits which include:

1. Accountability - it's a must.  If I have to weigh in to someone else (even though I DO post it here), it's face to face and it will keep me more focused.
2. Penalties - if I gain weight or miss a weigh in, I owe a buck.  If I don't record my meals through journals, I owe 50 cents.  
3. Nutritionist - actually, this was more helpful than I thought.  It's a higher protein plan with the shakes, and I'm glad to have professional support to help me stay on focused.  I give her much more credibility than a simple sales person (like I was at Jenny Craig)
4. Information - they did the WHOLE workup on me - from body fat to my resting metabolic rate (which was SO SURPRISING!).  Now, I know why I'm not losing.  I'll post my stats from the visit below.

The challenge itself lasts 12-weeks, and while I am not going to do anything like a fad diet, and yes, this one does involve shakes, I think all considered, it will be helpful for me.  I'm hoping to at least lose 10 lbs through the challenge.

My home weigh in basically didn't move - 146.  My weigh in at the challenge was 151.6 (BLEK).  My goal for the week is to weigh in under 150 next week at the challenge -- meaning I need a 2 lb weight loss.  It's so doable.


Here are a few of my other stats:

• 36.6 percent body fat (haven't seen it that high since... after Koko was born!)
• 36 inch waist (to be figured since nothing has shrunk back yet)
• 1410 Resting Metabolic Rate - yes, this includes the breastfeeding.  She said I have a slow metabolism, and the 1800 calories typically assigned from places like Jenny Craig or Weight Watchers for Breastfeeding Mom's is just an arbitrary number not tied to your individual metabolism... interesting... isn't it? No wonder I wasn't losing at the 1800-2,000 calorie range.  The problem is I'm going to be SO HUNGRY at first!  But, let's give this a shot at 1300 calories - I'll monitor my milk production and detail any issues in this blog. I'm also supposed to get 117 Grams of Protein a day... don't know how that will work, but I'll try.

I will say the nutritionist wasn't too supportive of my goal weight - 125... but I know I can get there.  Maybe it just sounds low?  Oh well, it's still my number regardless.  Shit, I weighed 117 when I worked at Jenny Craig - and that was WITH clothes!  I'm not trying to be that low - and for me, 125 is very reasonable.

EXERCISE UPDATES - I kinda blew it yesterday.  Matt got a little frustrated with me as I waited until 7:45 to go on my run, so I didn't do it after all.  Today, I had hoped to play makeup, but all I got in thus far was a 30 minute brisk walk with the stroller.  Other running attempts fell short.  Hope to get some Pilates in too.  Tomorrow, I'm going to continue with my Wednesday plan to run 10 and walk 10... oh boy!