Banana Smoothie

I'm usually a chocolate girl, but today, made a banana smoothie for breakfast.  All I can say is YUM!

2 Scoops Vanilla Shake Powder
1 Tablespoon Protein Powder
1/2 Banana
1 Cap of Banana Extract (Imitation)
1 Packet of Splenda
1 Cup Skim Milk
8oz Ice Cubes

I put the milk in the blender first and then add all the rest aside from ice - blend it and then blend it with the ice.  It's delicious!

Despite feeling crappy yesterday from that AWFUL pic (reminding myself that I have had awful pics while skinny too...), I did feel great at the AWC event - it was a wine tasting and yes, I probably should have passed on the wine, but I didn't - we also didn't have but a drink of each wine so I only had maybe a glass and a 1/2 (MAYBE).  Everyone was  so wonderfully encouraging - and complimentary about my skinny jeans I wore - which really helped re-motivate me.  Can wait until I'm back in my REALLY skinny jeans!!! LOL

I weighed in on the home scale this morning, and here's my stats:
HOME SCALE
Prepregnancy Weight:  128
Highest Pregnancy Weight:   165 (although I don't know - it might have been higher!)
Weight Gained:  37lbs
Current Weight:  141lbs
Weight Lost:  24lbs
Pounds to go:  13lbs!

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!

One half of a pound... maybe

Maybe it was a fluke or I couldn't quite see straight... but the scale was KIND this morning!  It showed me down a 1/2 pound, which is damn good because I'm friggin ravenous!! LOL.  I'm still not getting my exercise in - I am SO exhausted with Hubby traveling.  Between that and just keeping up on things, I wonder if it's not impossible without a bit extra help.  He comes home sometime this afternoon (hallelujah!).  I will likely throw the baby at him as he walks in the door and crash right where I'm at.  Seriously, I'm THAT tired.  After the joys of the night before (only up at 1:50 am), last night was horrendous and I was up I think every single hour.  I'm also aging by three times as fast as a direct result.  Ugh!

The best news is that it's Friday, but along with Friday comes the weekend and with the weekend are a few unique challenges.


First Friday - tonight is the art walk and I really want to get this little guy out and stroll for some social time.  First Friday means lots of appetizers (and wine).  So, if I go, I'm going to have to be extra careful.

Lil Q's Birthday - Party is Saturday at the Skating Rink and I'm picking up Daddy Cakes (the best damn bakery in Topeka) for the celebration -- and yes, I ordered  them long before I started this program.

Mother's Day - It's Sunday and there is a Mother's Day brunch Hubby and all the kids and I are going to on Sunday - I think I'll be having Quiche or a Breakfast Casserole.  I'll have to be on my best behavior because I think Monday is weigh in day.  If I'm not down, I'll be paying a buck.

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.

Hungry & Lookin Like a Hippo

I have been insatiable the past few days, gobbling up all kinds of crap in sight with no apparent self control.  Maybe I'm self sabotaging -- nah... just think I'm a bit stressed.  Looks like I will likely begin restricting calories next Tuesday after all. 

Yesterday went great -- got in my mat pilates - that was it, but I think I'm ok with that for my cross training days for now.  Today is a big running day, and it's gonna be on the treadmill.  3 running, 1 walking.  I'm almost a real runner now!