I'm sick!

When you're sick, you don't have to keep track of what you eat, right??? I've been eating ice cream b/c it feels good on my throat. No, seriously!!!

Natalie 08.10.06

I'm pleased to inform you that I've lost 5 pounds so far!!!

Last night I made 3 charts on cool colored poster board. The first one is my favorite - Natalie's Weight Progress Chart. So I got to make another dot on my chart and it went DOWN!!! That was exciting! The second chart is my exercise log. I have columns for "Activity," "Minutes," & "Approx. Calories Burned." The third chart is my daily food log. I'm not going to be writing down everything I eat, but will tally up the total calories, fat, fiber, WW Points, and H2O. Since I'm a visual person, maybe this will help me actually SEE what I've been eating and how much I really exercise.

That's all for now.

Alicia 8.10.06

Hello everyone! It's been too long since my last report. I've been putting this posting off since I wanted to give you some good news. Seems like my exercise goals have been flushed down the toilet for the last month. I seriously just stopped everything. My major excuse has been my part-time job. In the last month I've worked more than 40 hours on the computer in my "spare" time. That means whenever Chloe naps or goes to bed, I hop on the computer to work. I even sometimes work when she's playing but that's been difficult lately since she's becoming a very active and physical toddler. It's been a huge monetary blessing to our family (especially since I make $20 an hour), but I've sacrificed my health.

I've been pretty disgusted with myself lately and yesterday I began my workout routine again. Matt was off so he watched Chloe for me while I did my stability ball workout. I'm hoping to get some time to jog tonight. Pray that I make time for my health!

I have a few busy weeks coming up, so please pray that I can be somewhat consistent with my eating choices and workout regimen. This weekend is Chloe's birthday party and my mom and grandma are arriving tomorrow. Then, the following weekend we head up to Michigan to visit and pick up Matt's folks. They'll be staying with us for the end of August.

Thanks for your prayers and accountability, gals! Let's head into fall on a positive note!

Natalie 08.08.06

Not all “diet food” is the same. I'm sure you all know that already. Let me say right now –I L-O-V-E several Weight Watcher (Smart Ones) meals & many Lean Cuisine meals. However, there are some that aren’t worth the calories (and fat and sodium, etc.) For example, I had a Weight Watchers Double Fudge Cake, and I thought it was horrible!!!! (Maybe that’s b/c I just recently had Kim’s cake – see previous post.) But it has 220 calories & 6 grams of fat! It didn’t even taste GOOD! So, I’m not wasting my calories on that any more. On Weight Watchers behalf, their Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Sundae is worth it. It only has 3 g. of fat and 170 calories and 3 WW Points, oh, yes, and it tastes really good!

I’ve really enjoyed the South Beach Diet breakfast wraps. They have 15 g. of fiber in them which help me feel full longer. I wish Wal-mart carried more healthy “diet” breakfast items. I’ve only seen a couple choices. Anyone know of any other places around here that carry good breakfast foods that are healthy? I’m super picky. Maybe sometime I’ll post some things I like and don’t like for ya’ll so you can make suggestions.

Lean Cuisine has really done a good job w/ their paninis. They have 4 different ones. Check them out! http://www.leancuisine.com/Products/Search.aspx?Keywords=Panini

Thank you to everyone that has been so supportive of me in this journey.

Natalie's New Blog

I started another blog - my own weightloss blog, just so I don't way this one down w/ Natalie posts all the time. I'm definitely still in this one and am appreciating all your comments and encouragement!!!!

http://NatalieTheLoser.blogspot.com

Natalie 08.01.06 - This One's for My Body

I came to realize is that if I have healthy options that taste good, I won’t be so tempted to eat junk.I can't have junk in the house or I'll eat it. I won’t be going to lunch today b/c it’s hot dogs and they'll have yummy FATTENING desserts. I’m drinking ice water too. (Did you know that drinking ice water burns more calories than ice-less water? When we drink ice water, our bodies have to work harder to bring our body temperature up, thus burning more calories. I love ice water, so this one should be one of the less painful changes in my life.) So, this morning I went to Wal-mart and spent $55 on Smart Ones (Weight Watchers), Lean Cuisine, & Healthy Choice meals as well as fat free “cool whip,” frozen blueberries, frozen cherries, South Beach Diet breakfast wraps (I had one this morning and it was pretty good!) and No Sugar Added fudge bars (only about 45 calories and they taste great!) I decided that it’s going to cost me one way or another. I’d rather it cost me financially then cost me my health. I’m already so overdrawn on my health account that I can’t afford to “spend” any more. I brought a couple frozen meals to work w/ me today as well as 2 nectarines, an orange, and a cup of blueberries. (I don’t plan on eating them all today.)

So far this morning I have eaten 9g of fat, 200 calories, and 15 g of fiber and I drank 20oz. of ice water. Keep on me about what I’ve been eating and ask me if I exercise!!! My goal is to lose 125 pounds within the next 3 years. That averages out to be 3.5 pounds a month. I think that is attainable although I may die in the process. Ha! This is something my body needs. I'm GOING to DO IT!!!!