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!

Tools to SUCCESS

I've been relying on a free online calorie counter like an absolute crutch to keep me honest and accountable this past week and a half.  www.fitday.com.

I've been on Fit Day for 5 years now, but moved away from it when I found www.Sparkpeople.com (a free counter and weight loss community).  The problem with Sparkpeople is that it can be pretty complicated and can take up a lot of your time -- of course, you don't have to go to all the forums or read all the articles, but I did.  Sometimes I found it helped keep me focused, but I can't say I learned much of anything.  I should have been a dietician because I've pretty much read every opinion, concept, fact or study out there when it comes to nutrition and weight loss.  It's like crack for me and I'm a total junkie.

Fit Day is basic without all the fluff and these days, with the baby, I don't have time for fluff, so it fits good with my lifestyle.  You can track your calories and easily add recent food items.  It doesn't have as many name brand items, so I find myself entering a lot of items into the Custom Foods section, but once you get your basics in (admit it, you eat the same foods over and over again...), it's not hard to keep it up.  It doesn't have a water counter, but with my big 32 ounce jug I got from the hospital, I actually do pretty good with that.  It will tell you your approximate RMR and does some great analyyics and graphs - including the ever-important calories in versus calories expended.  It also estimates how many calories you should cut/burn to lose your goal weight - and it even warns you if you goal exceeds recommended safety guidelines.

The site is free, but there is also a premium version and a PC version which can sync online so you can still maintain accurate counts anywhere.  Not sure if there is an iPhone app yet, but if there isn't, one has to be in development. 

As I got on the home scale this morning and stared at 141 (wooo hooo!) I did a little dance and thought since I've had some successes, it's time I started sharing my "Tools to Success!"

Sports bra is in the dryer...

I knew I would have schedule adjustments, especially with a new baby, but I had hoped I could avoid it at least during my first week of training.  Nope.  The cards were stacked against me yesterday with the torrential rain, BB's incessant feedings and insatiable appetite and then Koko's band concert with the unexpected drop in from my parents (yep, I think THEY felt guilty... what a change of pace...).

But, I will not let this slight set back deter me as my solution is easy -- I'm switching my rest day for the XT day and suddenly ALL is forgiven!  Today is a running day.  The sports bra is in the dryer and soon I'll be ready to roll!

In speaking of Sports Bras - how important - no VITAL they are now.  My breasts are HUGE and get very heavy in as little as 30 minutes post feeding.  I bought a couple quality ones at Target - even tried them on to ensure a good fit with my new size.  Everything was great until I got home and realized I tried them on with very full milk feeders... LOL.  It's funny how a feeding can change the bra size a whole cup size -- and even funnier when I appear lopsided because of it.  I now have to exchange those sports bras and until I make it to Target, am cycling through the one quality one I have here.  I won't let a little thing like have enough underwear get into my way ;)

Here the link to C-9 by Champion Sports bras at Target: I purchased two in black and white.  I noticed they also have nursing sports bras online -- in fact they have a TON of nursing gear online they don't have here locally... time to shop some more?

UPDATE:  Ran/Walked 2.343 miles in 30 minutes.  Alternated 1 min @ 6mph by 1 min @ 4mph for 20 minutes and threw in a few extra runs at 5 mph at the end.  Also walked about .75 miles getting Lil Q with BB in his front back carrier -- which is REALLY tiring caring a baby so far in the thing.