Watch My Butt Shrink! A Weight Loss Blog

The Oscars Ain't Got Nothing On Me!

yeahilikeitstore@gmail.com (Jenn) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:03:00 +0000

I'll admit it - I did not watch the Oscars Sunday night. I was so tired, I wouldn't have made it through the first hour anyway, so I just skipped the whole darn thing. I did follow up yesterday to see who won and what everyone was wearing, so I think I experienced most of it anyway, lol.

I have to catch up on all the awards you guys have bestowed on me in the last couple of weeks! I am still sort of shocked and extremely humbled whenever I get one of these little badges. I love you guys so much and am so thankful you are here for me!

Thank you to Deb, 266 and Brittany for giving me the Sunshine Award! I love this one, because it reminds me of the song, "You Are My Sunshine". My mom used to sing it to me when I was a kid, and now I love to sing it to my girls. It reminds me of love!

The three ladies who gave me this award are bloggers that I visit often - they are inspiring and thoughtful, and if you haven't discovered them yet - please do so!

I'd like to pass on this award to the following 12 bloggers, each of them brings a bit of sunshine into my day:

Secrets to Losing 100 Pounds
Sugar Shakes
TJ's Weigh or the Highway
Loser For Life
Actual Scale
From Fat to Fab
My Wicked, Wicked Ways
Journey Beyond Survival
My Travels to Becoming a Better Me
Becoming an Ex Yo-Yo Dieter
Deb Will Be Thin
100 in 12

Thank you so much, Tania and Kate, for the "Creative Writer" Blogger award! Please go and check out their blogs as well - more great reading is in store for you!

I have to admit, when I first saw this one, I thought someone was trying to say I was a liar, lol! Then I read the instructions for the award, and thought it was a fun one.

Here are the rules of the award:

Thank the person who gave this to you.
Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
Link to the person who nominated you.
Tell up to six outrageous lies about yourself, and at least one outrageous truth.
Nominate seven "Creative Writers" who might have fun coming up with outrageous lies.
Post links to the seven blogs you nominate.
Leave a comment on each of the blogs letting them know you nominated them.

Here's my list of outrageous lies and one outrageous truth -
can you find the one that's the truth?

I've been arrested for "indecent exposure" several times in my life.
My husband and I like to go to "swingers" clubs while my in-laws watch the kids.
I've been to 8 different colleges in 16 years, finally getting my bachelor's degree when I was 34 years old.
I like to dress my girls up in goth outfits when we go grocery shopping.
I hold a happy hour in my kitchen every day at 3PM for the moms in my neighborhood - we're done by 5, and the husbands never know!
I can curse in 14 different languages.
I'm actually a 63 year old divorced man living in Palm Beach, Florida, and I use this blog to pick up chicks.

And now, here are the 7 bloggers I'd like to have lie to me, lol:

266
Jen In Real Life
The Anonymous Fat Girl
Downward TrENZ
One Last Kick At The Cat
Yum Yucky
Its All About The Walls

Enjoy, gang! Can't wait to see what you come up with! And believe me, there are MANY more blogs that I could add to these lists, but I have to go feed my kids, lol!

A gun to my head

yeahilikeitstore@gmail.com (Jenn) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:31:00 +0000

HI GUYSSS!!!! How are you all? Did you miss me??? I missed you! Especially when I was staring at an Excel spreadsheet full of numbers - I was pining away for my Google Reader so I could catch up with everyone! I'm slogging my way through all the business stuff, and I did get a lot done, but man - I'm not close to finished yet.

I'm sure you're curious how I've been doing on the weight loss front...well, there's not much going on there at the moment. Consistency has NOT been a word I've used in about 2 weeks or so. Some days I'm GREAT, spot on, full of fruits and veggies and ready to conquer the world. Other days, though - there's not a veggie in sight and I'm just not focused on getting high quality fuel.

Saturday was one of those days. Went to my parents' house, and ate pizza and fried chicken and pasta - not a single veggie or fruit all day! It's not like they held a gun to my head and said, "NO VEGGIES FOR YOU!" I mean - my parents did have veggies in the house, and I did serve them to my kids - I just didn't eat them myself.

:: Hangs head in shame ::

Yesterday was better - I tried to get in as many fruits and veggies as possible, and I did really well. So now I just need to repeat that today! Why is that so hard??

*Sigh*

One thing I've been consistent with is my water intake, yay! I got myself a 32 oz. water bottle (BPA free, baby) that has a straw and two of those puppies equals my 8 glasses of water - bam! It's become my new BFF, that bottle - I take it with me everywhere I go, and it's working. So, I've got that going for me, ha!

I hope you all have been doing better than me - I'll be cruising by the 100's of blogs I read to try and catch up this week, so please don't be hatin'!

XOXO

Retro Butt Shrinking: Then and Now: My First Three Months

yeahilikeitstore@gmail.com (Jenn) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 10:53:00 +0000

I wanted to share this post again, because I think it's so important to look back and see how far you've come in your process. In just three months, I saw significant changes in my life and my body, and those changes really motivated me to keep going.

Have a great weekend, everyone! I'll be back on Monday with some fresh content, I promise!

8.03.2009

Then And Now: My First Three Months

On April 30th I decided I had enough.

Enough of failure.

Enough of living in a body that was tired and malnourished.

Enough of feeling down on myself all. the. time.

<---Me at my heaviest, 247 pounds.

I thought about the countless times I tried to lose weight in the past. All the different diets, programs, exercises, pills, therapies. I knew something was missing in all those failed attempts, but what was it? What must I do differently this time so I will succeed, I thought?

My plan was simple:

Eat what I love but in proper proportions.
Eat filling, whole, nutritious foods so my body is nourished and I don't feel the need to eat more.
MOVE. Develop an exercise plan that I can sustain for a long period of time.
Get my family involved. My husband must be involved and must be willing to support me.
WRITE IT OUT. Start a blog so I can deal with the emotional issues associated with weight, and so I can have a support system that really understands what I'm going through.
Take pictures and measurements monthly to record my progress. ------>

And so....

Three months later, I am 22.8 pounds lighter, at least a size smaller, and a hell of a lot happier. I feel in my bones that this is my time. This is going to be the last run to the finish, and I will make it.

Three months ago I sat on the couch exhausted every night.
Now - I'm off to the gym three nights a week to work out for at least an hour each time.

Three months ago I ate stacks of cookies in front of the computer, not even tasting them.
Now - I eat 6 healthy meals a day, 35 grams or more of fiber, at least 5 servings of fruit and vegetables, while still incorporating my favorites (chocolate and ice cream).

Three months ago I was busting out of my size 20W jeans, literally too scared to contemplate buying a larger size.
Now - I'm on the last whole of my belt, which just barely holds up my jeans, and I'm looking to buy fall clothes in a size 16W.

I still have a long way to go, but when I see how far I've come in just 3 months, I'm excited about all the changes I've yet to experience.

Thank you to all of you that read my posts and comment here. Even if you don't comment, I know you are reading! Without you, I would NOT be writing this post right now. Without you, I would be the same woman I was three months ago. I'm so incredibly grateful for the time you take to read and respond.

Here's to another 3 months!

Retro Butt Shrinking: Fat Girl Says Hi-Yah!

yeahilikeitstore@gmail.com (Jenn) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 10:49:00 +0000

This was a fun post to write! Come with me and relive my first kickboxing class experience...(too bad my gym closed down or I'd still be "Hi-yah"ing today)...

Fat Girl Says Hi-yah!

I was slightly nervous walking into the mirrored workout room. I've taken classes in the past, but we're talking about 10 years ago at least. Plus, back then I was probably 25 pounds less than I am now. But, I was looking to change things up, and I really liked those Tae-bo DVD's, so I thought a kickboxing class might be a fun twist in my routine.

The florescent lighting in the dingy white room did nothing to help my self-esteem as I stood close to the door. It didn't help that I wore a huge, bright pink t-shirt over my black workout capris. I need to get clothes that fit me, I thought as I tried not to catch my reflection in the mirrors. Which was hard to do since there were freakin' mirrors everywhere!

Also around the room were "stations" of different exercises, looking like torture devices ready to make me moan and groan. There were signs next to each station with words like "squats", "drill", "push ups and jumping jacks". I've heard those words in the past, mostly in other blog posts, but I've never really done any of those exercises in recent time. My nerves were kicking in even more.

The instructor was flitting around the room checking all the stations. She had on a blue sports bra and tight purple capris, clearly displaying the huge dragonfly tattoo on the small of her back. Her hair was back in a ponytail, her face devoid of makeup and she wore a sweatband around her forehead. That sweatband meant business.

As the class filled up, I lost hope that I wouldn't be the biggest one in there. I was the fat one in class, and since it was my first time, I was sure to stick out like, well, the fat girl in the class. But I wasn't going to walk out now - that would draw even more attention to me. The instructor started to explain how the class worked. She wasn't the regular teacher, so this was not how the class would normally go (thank God, I whispered).

"Okay, so today we're gonna do a cardio kickboxing circuit. I know this isn't what you usually do in this class, but we're gonna do something different, something to get you out of your comfort zone."

Get me out of my comfort zone? I screamed in my head. I didn't have a comfort zone to get out of yet!

"When I say go, you'll pick a station and do that exercise for one minute. At the end of the minute, we'll meet back in the middle of the room for the cardio kickboxing segments. Then we'll move on to the next station until everyone has done all 8 stations. Okay? Ready....go!"

PANIC!

What the hell? Okay, here's a station - squats. I can do squats. Here I go, I'm squatting. This isn't too bad. Uh, okay...well, now my legs are starting to burn. What, it's only been 30 seconds?? Ouch! Oh, man - this sucks. Okay, 15 more seconds. How slow can I do a squat? Ugh.

This was pretty much my internal dialogue at every station. In between, the instructor killed us with jabs, punches and kicks all set at a ridiculous speed. I was sweating after 5 minutes in the class, and I frequently had to modify the exercises. But I did it! I made it through 45 minutes of torture. And you know what....

I. LOVED. IT.

I know in time I will get better at the moves, and my endurance and strength will improve. That class beat the pants over walking on the treadmill for an hour.

I'll be back in that class next week - so don't mess with me or I may give you a side kick with a loud, "HI-YAH!"

Retro Butt Shrinking: Being Fat Made Me a Better Person

yeahilikeitstore@gmail.com (Jenn) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 10:45:00 +0000

This is one of my favorite posts, because I really believe that all life experiences shape who we are at this moment. I also always try to see the lessons and positivity in these moments. This post is from June of 2009, still at the beginning of my journey...

Being Fat Made Me a Better Person

We all know there are a lot of negatives to being fat: health issues, low self-esteem, fat phobias. But there's one positive thing that I can take away from being fat. I truly believe it has made me a better person.

I'm not the type of person that laughs at cruel jokes. I don't look at someone with a disability and make a snide comment to my friend. I am a champion for the underdog. I am always acutely aware of other people's feelings. I sympathize with others who may not be "normal" or mainstream.

While being overweight has dealt a blow to my self-confidence, it has also pushed me to achieve in other areas of my life. Determined not to be left behind, I developed other skills to help me overcome my shyness and the possibility of rejection by others. I did well in school and in work, determined to prove I was smart and capable of anything.

Could I have developed these traits if I wasn't overweight most of my life? Who knows. I don't know what type of person I would be if I didn't go through life with this extra weight on my bones. Being "a person of size", especially as a young adult, put me in the position of the outsider, of the one that is the butt (heh) of the jokes, the one the boys never paid attention to. Because I was there, I can put myself in other people's shoes, and can sympathize with what they are going through.

I really hope that one day I can use my experiences to help others in some way. That would be the ultimate goal, wouldn't it? Not only to be at a healthy weight for the first time in my adult life, but to also use that experience to help others find their true self and become all they are meant to be.

Retro Butt Shrinking: You Like Me! Do You? Really?

yeahilikeitstore@gmail.com (Jenn) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 10:40:00 +0000

I first posted this back in June - thinking through these issues has been a central part of my progress in discovering who I am and how I use food in my life.

You Like Me! Do You? Really?

For a long time I thought that I was fat just because I ate too much. And I am, in a way. But after years of reading up on weight and following my own intuition, I know it's much more than just the food.

I was watching Oprah one day (before my kids took over the TV). I think it was the episode where she was discussing how and why she gained back the weight. And she explained that it was because her life was out of balance, so she was stressed out and started eating. She also said that there is always a reason - there is something going on emotionally that causes someone to overeat. Its never just about the food.

Ever since watching that show, I've thought about my reasons. Why am I 100 pounds overweight? Why did I let myself get this heavy? Here's what I've come up with so far:

I'm a person who strives for approval. I always want everyone to like me, and when they don't I get upset. Food provided comfort at times when I didn't get the approval I was looking for.
At one point in my life I was extremely depressed. During this time, I gained close to 50 pounds. Although I am no longer depressed, I incorporated those bad habits into my life, and have not replaced them with better habits.

I really have to work on the approval thing. I'm always afraid that someone is mad at me, isn't that strange? I want to learn how to not care too much how others think of me. I mean, if I did something to hurt someone, then they should tell me, but I think I'm a pretty nice person most of the time, so I don't think I hurt people very often!

It's a constant struggle to manage all the emotions and feelings that go along with being overweight. But I know that I must deal with these things in addition to the diet and exercise if I want to make this time the LAST time I lose weight.

Magic Bullet Winner!

yeahilikeitstore@gmail.com (Jenn) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 02:05:00 +0000

Thanks to everyone who entered (and followed, and fan'ed, and tweeted, lol)!

Drumroll please....

Random.org has spit out a number:

And if I counted correctly, that would make Mommy P the winner!!!

Congratulations! Please email me your info (watchmybuttshrink[at]gmail[dot]com), and I'll get your mixer right out to you...I hope you'll share some of the Magic with us once you get it! :-)

I hate to repeat myself...

yeahilikeitstore@gmail.com (Jenn) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 10:39:00 +0000

Hi gang!!! How was your weekend? After all the snow we got, my husband dug us out late Saturday - he had to buy a snow blower to do it! My parents came out to help - it was so crazy.

I'm happy to say my snacking was well under control this weekend, although I started to feel like Jack Nicholson from The Shining after a while..."All carrots and no cookies make Jenn a dull girl..."

I'm neck-deep in business tax hell this week. Maybe this year I'll actually use the Quickbooks software I bought last year, because this plain sucks. I'm sifting through a year's worth of receipts, reports and Excel spreadsheets, trying to get my numbers in order.

So - this week my posts will be going retro. I'll be pulling some oldies but goodies from the WMBS archives. Just think of me slaving away at the computer while you read, lol.

I'll be back tonight to announce the winner of the Mix It Up! Giveaway, though! Haven't entered yet? Click here - you've got a bunch of chances to win a brand new Magic Bullet set!

Here's a retro post from way back in May of '09:

Skinny Ankles

I've been thinking about my motivations; what is it that will keep me going this time? I know motivations can change, but I think the most important thing is to have them and to reference them often, especially when staring down a chocolate-dipped cannoli.

So here are my current motivations. Please share yours!

My kids - in my first post I explained about a scene from the Biggest Loser that really got my butt in gear.

Skinny ankles - I've always wanted ankles where you can see the bones. My ankles have been fat since I can remember, so skinny ankles would be a sure sign I was doing well!

Health - I don't want to deal with diabetes, heart disease and all the other problems that can develop with being overweight. I've dodged a bullet so far with my health, but I know if I don't do something now, it's gonna catch up with me eventually.

Baby #3 - This is my 2nd biggest motivation besides my kids. I was 200 lbs when I had my first daughter, and 225 when I had my 2nd. Both my kids were big (over 9lbs!), and I really "felt" the pregnancy. Not to mention how hard it was to find maternity clothes! I really want to be healthy before getting pregnant again.

There's my current list - motivations that are on my mind right now. I'd love to see yours!

Rockin' Recipe! Zamazing Zucchini Bread

yeahilikeitstore@gmail.com (Jenn) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 13:49:00 +0000

Well, it's day 2 of February Fury... How many of you guys bake when you're home bound due to bad weather? My girls and I had a great time baking up some banana bread and zucchini bread yesterday as we watched the snow fall. Oh - and it's STILL coming down! Just a few more pics:

The snow's as high as the benches

Where'd the swings go? LOL

This is what happened when we tried to open our back door - oops!

We made some Zamazing Zucchini Bread yesterday that I want to share with you! Its delicious, and easily adaptable - you could add nuts, or some flaxseed meal and it would still be yummy! We added some dark chocolate chips to yesterday's batch. This is my own recipe, adapted from a bunch of other recipes to make it healthier and tastier! Enjoy!

Jenn's Zamazing Zucchini Bread

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
3 tsps ground cinnamon
3 eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
4 cups grated zucchini (about 3 large zucchini)

Grease and flour two 8 x 4 inch loaf pans. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
Sift flours, salt, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon together in a bowl. Set aside.
Beat eggs, oil, applesauce, and sugars together in a large bowl. Add sifted ingredients to the creamed mixture, and beat well. Stir in zucchini until well combined. Pour batter into prepared pans.
Bake for 40 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on rack for 20 minutes. Remove from pan and cool completely.

Here are the nutritional stats without any add-ins (chocolate, nuts, etc)...

Makes 12 servings per loaf; 24 total servings

Per serving:
Calories: 215
Fat: 8g
Sodium: 182mg
Carbs: 32g
Fiber: 2.6g
Protein: 3.5g

This makes a great breakfast! Enjoy!

PS - Don't forget about my giveaway! The prize rhymes with "tragic mullet"! Click here to enter!

Mix It Up! GIVEAWAY

yeahilikeitstore@gmail.com (Jenn) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:29:00 +0000

I'm sitting here in the midst of "February Fury!" - snow, snow and more snow!

We won't be barbecuing anytime soon...

My backyard is a winter wonderland

My driveway - would be great for sledding if it didn't empty out into the street!

We're expecting 15 to 24 inches of snow!!! Ridiculous.

I thought today was a perfect day for a giveaway!!! **This Giveaway Is Now Closed***

Today's giveaway is something I've learned to LOVE. It slices, it dices, it makes a mean smoothie...it's:

The Magic Bullet MBR-1701 17-Piece Express Mixing Set!

One lucky winner will get this whole set! I love to use this for grating fresh cheese and for making THE BEST smoothies! It comes with two different blades, 4 mugs, 2 mixing cups, and shaker tops.

Here's how to enter:

1. Leave a comment here with the answer to this question:
" If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?" (I would live in Italy in a heartbeat).

2. For a 2nd chance to win, sign up for my RSS feed or add me to your Google follower list. If I'm already there, just tell me so. Make sure this is a separate comment from #1!

3. For yet another chance, become a fan of Watch My Butt Shrink! on Facebook! We've got a nice little group over there, but it doesn't hurt to have more, lol! Then come back here and let me know you did it (and if you're already a fan, just say so!) Make sure this is a separate comment from #1 and #2!

4. And yet another entry - follow me on Twitter, and send out a tweet about this giveaway! Come back here and leave a separate comment letting me know you did it.

Contest ends on Monday, March 1st at 9PM EST. The winner will be chosen using Random.org. Contest is open to the USA and Canada only.

Legalness: I have been no way compensated for this giveaway, nor has this item been given to me by anyone. I am solely responsible for the purchase of this item - and giving it away because I love my readers!

Good luck everyone!

Psst! Hey, you...

yeahilikeitstore@gmail.com (Jenn) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 11:32:00 +0000

Yeah, you!

Can you keep a secret? 'Cause Jenn has being doing some, well, interesting things lately, but I don't want to say nuthin, 'cause she has a tendency to freak out sometimes. You know - like when she's doing great, losing weight, etc., then she eats a bag of chips or a pint of ice cream. I don't get it, personally, but hey - to each his own, am I right? I'm just a little blog, what do I know?

Oh, you didn't know I could write my own posts? Yeah, I don't like to let the cat out of the bag cause then Jenn would want me to write ALL her posts, and well - I got better things to do. But, I just had to share this with you guys. Just keep it on the down low, 'kay?

For the last few days, Jenn has been the poster child for healthy eating. You should see the veggies she's been scoffing down! And the complex carbs - it's a beautiful thing, I tell ya. Her portions have been, dare I say, normal, and she's even enjoying a bit of dark chocolate every day.

The biggest thing, though, has been the water. Ooofah, that girl is a fish! I've never, never seen her drink so much water! I always take a peek at her food log on that SparkPeople site, and for the past few days she's been filling up that little water glass at the top of her blog. It's such a pretty sight, it almost makes me tear up (if I had eyes, that is).

Yep, she's doin' alright, that girl. Let's hope she keeps it up!

And hey - I was never here, capeesh?

Jenn's blog

Permission to Binge: The Aftermath

yeahilikeitstore@gmail.com (Jenn) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 11:06:00 +0000

As predicted, my "Permission to Binge, Sir!" post generated lots of great discussion. I appreciate each and every comment I received (as I always do). You guys are always so thoughtful and intelligent, and you can state your opinions while being respectful yet honest. I love you, man.

Anyway, I wanted to share some of the comments I received because I think this is a topic that a lot of us grapple with from time to time. And yes, I did just use the word "grapple".

Many of the comments were in the camp of, "letting yourself eat whatever you want is risky, and could lead to baaaad things".

Patsy said,

"This is an interesting idea, but a dangerous one for me to try... I could SO easily eat 2000+ calories in just one meal, so 3000 wouldn't be *real* blowout... And I think I'd find it almost impossible to stop at just the one day... I've tried this kind of thing before and often it's dragged on for weeks - or months."

Tammy agreed:

"....I'd be very careful about giving yourself permission for an "anything goes" day, all day long. 3,000 isn't horrifying....but it's the loosey goosey attitude for the whole day that you have to be careful of. I know from experience (Oct-Dec) that it can slip into the next day, and then the next...and before you know it, you pack back on nearly 20 lbs like I did, and have to do all of that work over again."

Then there were those of you who were definitely against the idea, like Marcelle:

"No not a good idea at all...that one day can set your whole week back...glad u back on plan now."

Alexia was with Marcelle:

"It's great that you're back on track. But I do feel like you're setting yourself up "for failure and conditioning bad habits." It's unhealthy to eat so much, especially those kinds of foods. It really isn't about weight-loss or dieting, it's about lifestyle."

My girl Hanlie said,

"I don't like it! It's not good for you emotionally or physically. Think about how your body must feel... And I think in the long term you would be defeating your whole weight loss strategy. But that's just my opinion..."

I would say the majority of the responses said that this journey is a personal one, and we each have to do what we feel is best for ourselves.

So the question is - do I think I did the right thing?

Well...no.

Did it trigger more binges? No. BUT - my eating was NOT stellar for a few days after that. I still ate unhealthy foods, but my portions were not huge. My theory that giving in to that need to eat anything mentality would stop it from coming back in subsequent days was a FAIL.

That being said - the feelings I had on that day were very rare and specific to a certain situation. I'll talk more about what was going on then at another time. I think it's safe to say that those days will not be common occurrences. I've been on the straight path for the last few days now, and will continue to learn and grow as I find my way in the dark.

I didn't gain a million pounds from that one day, and I really didn't suffer any emotional blows either. I did gain some insight into my eating patterns and habits, and if I do face that sort of day again, I will handle it differently.

It's all about the learning, people - this is a marathon, not a sprint! Each mistake takes us one step closer to our goals.

Message Received

yeahilikeitstore@gmail.com (Jenn) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 10:59:00 +0000

Howdy-do, everyone! Did you miss me? I missed you all sooooo much. Man, I went through bloggie withdrawal the past few days! But, sometimes we all just need to unplug, yaknowwhatImean?

I did weigh in on Friday, and I was up 1.8 pounds. I'm okay with that, really! I truly appeciated everyone's thoughts on my "Permission to Binge" post - I'm going to talk more about that tomorrow.

I've spent the past few days visiting with family and close friends, sharing good news and bad, and remembering just how precious life is.

Last week I was watching a TiVo'd Oprah episode, which was dedicated to diabetes. She had (the awesome) Dr. Oz on that day, and he explained just how diabetes works and how it affects your body. I watched this episode at rapt attention, because my mom has diabetes, and my father's mom had diabetes.

As a very, very quick recap - you are a diabetic if your body can no longer process the sugar that goes into your body. The sugar you ingest stay in your blood rather than getting metabolized by insulin. The sugar molecules are actually sharp, and as they flow through your bloodstream, they create little nicks and cuts in the vascular walls. The body then creates scar tissue to heal these nicks and cuts, and that scar tissue creates blockages, which can result in loss of circulation, strokes, and heart attacks, among other complications.

After I saw that show, I talked to my mom the next day and said to her, "Have you checked your numbers lately?" She told me that she did, and that she was actually going to have a vascular scan as part of a free clinic that NYU was running on Saturday.

My mom found out she has a blockage that needs surgery.

Yeah - not the best news. The GOOD news is that they actually found it before something terrible happened. She has to get some bloodwork and tests done, and get cleared from surgery by her general doctor. But, I would guess in the next few weeks she'll get this surgery done and will be okay. What really burns my toast is that her regular doctor has never done a vascular scan on my mom. As a diabetic patient, wouldn't you think this would be a regular thing, since this is exactly what happens to you when you have diabetes?? I'm urging my mom to find another doctor that specializes in diabetes so that she gets the care that she needs.

I truly believe that God sends us messages, and I certainly received this one. I think it's definitely His doing that I watched that show at about the same time as my mom heard the radio announcement about the free clinic. I mean, the technician who did the scan actually said to her, "I'm surprised you haven't already had a stroke." (Oh, and that tech was SO WRONG in saying that to my mom, by the way! What a douche!!)

Yesterday I went to visit my best friend, the one who had the preemie baby back in November. He's been home for almost a month now! Talk about a miracle - he was 1lb, 14oz when he was born, and he now weighs 6 1/2 pounds. He's had only very minor complications, and continues to grow and thrive. I was so happy to finally get to meet him, and to see the happiness on my friend's face.

Take care of yourself, guys. Watch your sugar intake, and remember to marvel in the gift of life. And please pray for my mom - I'll keep you all updated.

Ah'll Be Bahck...

yeahilikeitstore@gmail.com (Jenn) — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 22:18:00 +0000

I'm taking a bit of a blogging break, guys. I'll be back on Monday...all is well, just some shtuff going on that I have to take care of! Have a great weekend, and as Ah-nold says, "Ah'll Be Bahck!"

Permission to binge, sir!

yeahilikeitstore@gmail.com (Jenn) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 11:53:00 +0000

So, yesterday I posted about my "wolf woman" tendencies around my monthly cycle. And, true to form - I started the process of eating the entire contents of my home.

And then - I had a thought: What if I gave myself permission to eat WHATEVER I WANTED, for just one day? Would that be so terrible? Yesterday was obviously a day where I was looking to eat. As I started rummaging through my cabinets, I decided to just let myself eat. "Okay, Jenn," I said (in my head). "Today you can have whatever you want. Don't think about sugar or calories. Just eat what you want and enjoy it. But after today - get back on the stick, girl! Permission will be revoked at 9PM this evening."

So - that's exactly what I did! I had chocolates, I had an almond butter and jelly sandwich, I had ice cream. Every time I tried to censor myself, I just reminded myself that I had permission to go forth and munch.

I'd like to say that in the end I didn't eat very badly because the guilt and bad feelings were gone. I'd like to say that I wound up choosing good foods and ate reasonable portions. Yeah - that didn't happen. I decided to enter everything I ate into SparkPeople, just to see the damage I did:

Total calories: 3,121

Okay, that's a lot of calories! I went over my limit by 1,621 today. But that doesn't even equal a whole pound extra (which would be 3,500 calories).

Today, I'm going back on plan, cutting down on my carbs to Phase I levels of South Beach, just for good measure. My idea is that I got all that "wolf woman" eating frenzy-ness out of my system yesterday. Rather than fighting against it (and losing) for days, I've contained the damage into a 12 hour window, and can now get back on track for the next few weeks. I guess we'll see what happens (and how it affects my weigh in on Friday).

This is not something I plan to do with any regularity. But, I can see this working for me one those days like today when I just wasn't having it with my regular eating plan. Will this day trigger more overeating? I sure hope not! But we'll have to see - I'm willing to sacrifice in the name of science, lol.

So, what do you think? Is giving myself permission to overeat once in a while a smart strategy, or am I setting myself up for failure and conditioning bad habits?

Anyone else every try this? If so, what was the result?

I have a feeling this will be a hot topic today!

Hungry like the wolf

yeahilikeitstore@gmail.com (Jenn) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 12:09:00 +0000

It's here. I can feel myself changing, becoming some new, twisted creature.

My family is unaware of my transformation until it is too late. One day I'm my usual happy self, and the next - I'm a growling, snapping fiend.

Yes, it's here - T. O. M. (that's "time of month", girls).

Every month it's the same thing - my hormones are out of whack, my mood is foul, and I want to eat anything and everything that is not nailed down.

I've noticed a trend in my weight loss journey. Whenever I hit this week, I always slip up with my eating. Every. single. month. I'm not sure if it's because I'm looking to eat away the emotional changes, or because my hormones make me more hungry. And of course, there's always the "am I pregnant?" question that gets my knickers all knotted up.

I'm hoping that this month will be different. Yes, I'm still a bit b*tchy, but so far I haven't strayed too far off my eating plan. I've had several conversations with myself regarding the cake and chocolate in my house, but they're not really calling me.

Hopefully I'll shed my wolf woman alter-ego later this week and will have finally made it through a cycle without reclaiming some of the pounds I've lost. I'm trying to up my calcium intake this week, as I've heard it can help with these "she wolf" symptoms.

I'm sure my husband and kids are just as hopeful that I'll be more like myself this month!

A Love-ly Weekend

yeahilikeitstore@gmail.com (Jenn) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 11:45:00 +0000

Nothing says "Love" like a chocolate cake, lol! Nothing says temptation like a chocolate cake either, as you'll soon find out...

We had an awesome weekend - full of family and expressions of love. My kids must have said, "Happy Valentime's Day, Mommy!" about 100 times this weekend, and I loved it every time. My little sweeties were so excited for the day (especially the cake).

Let me back up a bit...Saturday night the hubby and I had a romantic dinner while my in-law's finger-painted with the kids. Before we went to dinner we stopped at this Old World Market, an amazing specialty food market in Nyack. What a feast for the eyes! Cheeses and olives as far as the eye can see:

They set up the market to look like a rustic farm, with wood beam rafters and a pergola to enjoy a cup of coffee under:

Hunks of chocolate!!! I could have gnawed on one of these very easily:

And of course an incredible pastry counter:

After our trip to the market we went to dinner at The Hudson House in Nyack. It is a very quiet, intimate restaurant, and seafood seems to be their specialty. I got the crab cake app, which was served on top of Julienne apples - the contrast of sweet and savory was so good. I had looked at their menu online before we left, and was planning to get the steak au poivre, but then they mentioned the lobster special - and I got that instead! A whole lobster, out of the shell, with sauteed spinach and a potato cake. I didn't eat the potato, but devoured the lobster and spinach! And I had a wee glass of wine - yum.

I did SO WELL at dinner! I enjoyed it and didn't feel the least bit deprived. I ignored the bread plate and did not order dessert, but indulged in a cappuccino instead. I tried to take pictures but the lighting was too low...you'll just have to take my word for it - the food was terrific! It was also VERY expensive. The only reason why we went was because my in-laws had gotten us a gift cert from LAST Christmas - better late than never, eh?

Yesterday my kids woke up to a few gifts on the table and heart-shaped pancakes:

Then my parents came by with more gifts and spent time with the kids. They had so much fun - I always love to see my parents enjoy the kids. It warms my heart.

We ended the night with - yep, the cake - and a movie. I wasn't planning on having any cake - in fact, while the kids and the hubby had theirs, I had a small piece of dark chocolate and a sugar free pudding cup. But - that freakin' cake called to me, and I wound up shaving several bites off of the leftovers before putting it away. In hindsight, I should have just cut myself a small piece to enjoy with the family. I'm not that upset over eating it - it wasn't that much, really. But I wish I didn't have that "gotta sneak bad food" mentality. So, I give myself a B for today, but overall I did pretty well.

I'm going to go back to Phase I eating for today and tomorrow, just to get the sugar out of my system, and I'm NOT going to beat myself up over the cake thing. It was very, very good cake, lol!

What do you guys think? Is it better to plan on indulging a bit at times like this, or just try to stick it out and hope you can refrain from giving in to the temptation?

Weigh In Day! Awwwww, yeahhh.....

yeahilikeitstore@gmail.com (Jenn) — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 12:34:00 +0000

It's Friday!!! What a crazy week - snow and school closings and oranges, oh my! Are you ready for Valentine's Day? I have to admit - I slacked off a bit this year. I just couldn't find the time to send cards to everyone. I tried!!!

Oh man - that orange I had yesterday was so freakin' good...it was like juicy candy! I swear I was actually sad when it was all gone.

BUT, you didn't come here for an orange update! You came here for some weigh-in results, right? Okay, here we go!

Last week's weight: 212.7

Today's weight: 208.6

Loss for this week: 4.1 pounds!!!

I broke the 210's, baby!!!! I'm in a new decade, and less than two pounds away from a total of 40 pounds lost!!! I'm cruisin' toward Onederland!!!

I'm curious to see how things develop as I add my grains and fruit back in to my diet. Today I'm planning on having some blueberries...mmmmm. And tomorrow I'm going to add a serving of bread to the mix.

We are going out to eat tomorrow to celebrate V-day, so I'm hoping I can find suitable food at the restaurant. It shouldn't be too difficult, I just need to stay away from the bread basket.

Have a great weekend, everyone! Happy Valentine's Day!!!!

The South Beach Diet: Phase I - Complete!

yeahilikeitstore@gmail.com (Jenn) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 12:13:00 +0000

Well, Snowmaggedon hit us, and hit us hard! We're digging out of about 13 inches, which is nothing compared to the poor people in Southern Jersey, Maryland and Virginia. Crazy, man - crazy!

We did get a chance to play outside yesterday before the brunt of the storm hit:

My big girl and daddy taking a ride in our backyard. She's covering her face because she didn't like the snow flying in her face!

My two abominable snow princesses!

The top of the "triple diamond" sled run in my backyard!

Besides being a snow day, yesterday was my last day on Phase I of the South Beach Diet! I did it - two weeks with NO sugar, NO bread, NO pasta, NO fruit. It wasn't as hard as I thought it was going to be, but I am super excited to eat an orange today!

Hello, Lover.

I got a few responses about my decision to do this plan that fall into the "anti-diet" camp. I completely understand and believe me - this is not a diet to me, in the familiar sense of the word.

I've come to the conclusion that I am one of those people who cannot work high sugar, high fat foods into my daily diet. While I would LOVE to be able to have "just a bite" of cake or a cookie - I just can't. True to my "crap begets crap" philosophy, once I have a bite, I want more...and more...and more...

So, my plan is to work some grains and some fruit back into my diet, but to mainly focus on lean, low-fat protein and veggies. Lots and lots of veggies - which, I think, is a great way to eat. And this is the way I need to eat - for the rest of my life. So you see, this isn't a "diet" for me, meaning something I start and then stop. This is a life plan for eating well and maintaining a healthy weight. I feel confident about this, because I feel it is the culmination of the many, many years of failed dieting and struggles with food that I have faced.

Some of you may argue that this is too hard to maintain. I admit, I'm skeptical myself! And I cannot say that I'll NEVER have cake again. But, I will try my hardest to keep it to very special occasions - my birthday, and Christmas. It's worth it to me. I'M WORTH IT. No cookie or piece of cake is more valuable than feeling good about myself.

Did I follow the Phase I plan to the letter? Nope. I could not stomach fat free half and half and turkey bacon (blech), so I continue to use the real (good) stuff, although I did switch to center-cut bacon (thank you, Marisa!). I also counted my calories, something the South Beach Diet does not encourage. I'm still a believer in "calories in, calories out", and I felt I needed to be aware of how much I was eating. That being said - I found it very, very easy to stay within my calorie limit of 1,500 a day. So, if you follow the plan and don't count your calories, I could see it being very easy to eat an acceptable amount (acceptable meaning, enough to lose weight).

Did I continue to get cravings after the first few days? Well...sort of. I found myself thinking about chocolate and pasta a few times. But then I realized that every time those thoughts came into my head it was because I was late with a meal. Either I forgot my snack, or it was approaching dinnertime. So, I would just eat the meal I was supposed to eat and the thoughts of chocolate went away!

The main drawbacks to Phase I, for me, were:

"Plumbing problems". The book says this shouldn't be an issue, but it is with me. I've been taking some supplements to help with this, but I'm hoping as I add the fruit and grains back in I'll be back on my "regular" schedule.

Headaches. Ugh, the first five days were rough. I had a constant headache from the sugar withdrawal.

Boredom. It's hard to come up with variety on a limited diet. I made sure to try a bunch of new recipes which definitely helped.

Prep work. The first few days I started each morning chopping up peppers and onions, sauteing them, then making an omelet - too much work for me! Then I found a recipe for a breakfast casserole that had all the ingredients baked right in. I made it, and - bang! 4 breakfasts that are ready in a minute.

Sodium. The first few days my salt levels were way too high. This was due to the cheese and deli meats I was using. After I cooked some meat and had it ready to go, my sodium levels went down to a more reasonable level.

So that's it - my longest post ever, ha ha, and a complete run down of Phase I. If you're still reading - thank you! :-) I'll see you guys tomorrow for weigh in day!

Snow day!

yeahilikeitstore@gmail.com (Jenn) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 12:49:00 +0000

Hi gang!

Happy Wednesday! Well, we didn't escape the snow this time around - it's coming down steadily, school and my husband's job are closed today, and the girls have asked to go out in the snow about 5 times already (it's not even 8AM).

Today I plan on drinking lots of warm drinks, and doing some serious loafing. Today marks the end of Phase I for the South Beach Diet for me! I can't wait to have some fruit tomorrow, lol! I bought some Ezekiel bread too, so I'll try adding that in as well. I'm looking to have an AWESOME weigh-in on Friday!

That's it for today - short and sweet (just like me, ha ha). I'll be back tomorrow with a full review of Phase I. Peace out!

Its party time in Maryland, and - the truth about Canadian Bacon

yeahilikeitstore@gmail.com (Jenn) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:28:00 +0000

That's right, my friends - I'm goin' to Fitbloggin' 2010!!!

I'm so freakin' excited! I've never been to a blogging conference before, and I think this one will be perfect for me. Not as big and scary as Blogher, and totally tuned into my writing niche.

Plus, I get to meet a bunch of cool ladies - women whose blogs I've been reading ever since I start WMBS back in May of 09.

So excited!!!

Tell me - are you going to Fitbloggin'? Let me know so I can make sure we get to meet!

*********************************************************

So...last week I joked about the cost of Canadian Bacon, and how it must be made out of real Canadians. My friend, 266, shared with me the TRUTH behind Canadian Bacon, and has allowed me to share it with all of you. Friends, it's pretty shocking, so be prepared:

266 has left a new comment on your post "My thoughts on the South Beach Diet so far":

As a matter of fact, Canadian bacon does contain real Canucks. We have a lottery system out here – which costs just a loonie – and it is considered a great honour to be chosen to be made into these tasty meat slices. The process was exclusively the privilege of the Inuit up until the late 1970's when Pierre Trudeau passed the then-radical Pork Belly Act, thereby making all Canadian-born citizens eligible to be processed at the famous Gretzky Meat Factory in Moosejaw, Saskatchewan.

Recently there has been a movement amongst immigrants to also be granted the right to become bacon, but the summit talks that were to take place this past January 11th – when the birthday of Sir John. A. Macdonald was being observed – have been postponed due to a problem with the French translation of the directions to Nunavut’s capital city, Iqaluit. Once the government officials are finally able to make their way to the town hall igloo, we are sure to see progress on the proposed “Fresh Meat” clause that will likely become an addendum to the original act.

In the unlikely event that a riot is started by the small group of protestors that inevitably gather when new laws are to be passed, the Mounties will be on the scene to ensure that peace is maintained. We certainly don’t want a repeat of the great Snowball Fight of 1993, when countless toques went missing due to the excessive beer guzzling that took place prior to the resulting chaos. Regardless of what the outcome is, I am confident that the government will give ‘er so that this matter will be resolved before the Stanley Cup playoffs. All my best, eh!

Yeah, she made that up on the spot! Sharp woman, that one. :-)

It's a new dawn, it's a new day...

yeahilikeitstore@gmail.com (Jenn) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:41:00 +0000

...and I'm feeling goooooooddd....

I couldn't help but have this song in my head after this weekend. I conquered many obstacles in my weight loss journey in the past two days, and I've come out on the other side feeling confident and strong. I posted about some of these NSV's (non-scale victories) over the weekend, but I'll quickly go over them here:

I survived a trip to the mall without succumbing to the siren call of Cinnabon, or any food court menace. I've had major problems with the mall in the past. If it wasn't cinnamon buns, it was high calorie coffee drinks. But on Friday I took the girls to the mall, armed with our own healthy snacks. I didn't even miss the sugary concoctions that I usually get there!

I'm really tuning in to my hunger levels, and actually leaving food on my plate if I've had enough! This is major news - I'm a lifelong member of the Clean Your Plate Club - but they may be revoking my membership soon.

Today my parents came over to visit, loaded down with New York bagels. They didn't even tempt me. I wasn't pining over them, wishing I could have one. I made myself a bowl of yogurt with cinnamon and walnuts, and treated myself to a second cup of coffee - and I was happy!

These victories put wind in my sails. They give me the confidence to make good decisions for yet another day. On their own, they may not be much, but combined into a string of good choices - well, they're a powerhouse!

I'll leave you with the song I quoted in my title today - it's a great way to start off the week:

Make some good choices today!

Food Journal: 02.07.10

yeahilikeitstore@gmail.com (Jenn) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:05:00 +0000

I had a T-riffic weekend! On point all weekend, it was awesome. More about it tomorrow!

Enjoy the game, all those that watch!

	Calories	Fiber, total dietary	Sodium, Na	Carbohydrates
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Breakfast
Spinach and Turkey Bacon Egg Casserole - 4 total servings, 1 serving	290	2	1,062	5
Half and Half Cream, 3 tbsp	59	0	18	2
	349	2	1,080	7
Lunch
	Calories	Fiber, total dietary	Sodium, Na	Carbohydrates
London Broil, 3 oz	168	0	39	0
Beans, Goya black beans, low sodium, 0.5 cup	100	8	125	18
Celery, raw, 2 stalk, medium (7-1/2" - 8" long)	13	1	70	3
Smucker's Natural Creamy Peanut Butter, 1.5 tbsp	158	2	90	5
	438	11	324	25
Dinner
	Calories	Fiber, total dietary	Sodium, Na	Carbohydrates
Swiss Mushroom Chicken, 1 serving	275	0	682	4
olivia's organic baby spinach(2cups), 1 serving	20	2	70	3
Ken's Steak House, Lite Ranch Salad Dressing, 2 Tbsp, 0.5 serving	50	0	130	2
	345	2	882	9
Snack
	Calories	Fiber, total dietary	Sodium, Na	Carbohydrates
Skinny Cow Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Sandwich, 1 serving	140	3	120	30
Fage - 0%, 6 oz	90	0	64	7
Walnuts, 0.5 oz (14 halves)	95	1	0	2
Half and Half Cream, 3 tbsp	59	0	18	2
	383	4	202	41
	1,515	19	2,489	82
	1400 - 1500	25 - 35	500 - 2300	158 - 244

I use SparkPeople to track my food.

Food Journal: 02.06.10

yeahilikeitstore@gmail.com (Jenn) — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 00:20:00 +0000

Can you believe we didn't get one flake of snow today?! We were right on the edge of that storm. My parents got close to 7 inches, and they live an hour away! Crazy.

So I had another Quickbooks day - a day where my husband takes the kids to his parents' house so I can try to make sense of my 2009 business taxes. It sucks. I miss my family, I'm stuck going through receipts and entering numbers into the computer all day...blech.

Last time I had a Quickbooks day, I went off the diet deep end. Today, I did MUCH better! I did go over my calories, but only by a little, and considering the low calorie count from yesterday, I'm calling it even.

	Calories	Fiber, total dietary	Sodium, Na	Carbohydrates
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Breakfast
Egg substitute, liquid (Egg Beaters), 0.75 cup	90	0	345	1
Laughing Cow Light Creamy French Onion 1 wedge, 2 serving	70	0	520	2
Half and Half Cream, 3 tbsp	59	0	18	2
Ham Russer Light, 2 oz	60	0	450	2
	279	0	1,333	7
Lunch
	Calories	Fiber, total dietary	Sodium, Na	Carbohydrates
London Broil, 5 oz	280	0	65	0
Romaine Lettuce (salad), 3 cup, shredded	24	3	13	4
fresh gourmet crispy onion, 2 tbsp	47	0	0	5
Ken's Steak House, Lite Chunky Blue Cheese Salad Dressing, 2 Tbsp, 1 serving	80	0	350	4
Beans, Goya black beans, low sodium, 0.5 cup	100	8	125	18
	530	11	553	31
Dinner
	Calories	Fiber, total dietary	Sodium, Na	Carbohydrates
Jennie-O Lean Turkey Burger Savory Seasoned (1 burger), 1 serving	160	1	270	0
Green Beans (snap), 1 cup	34	4	7	8
Hellman's light mayo, 1 tbsp	40	0	115	0
weight watcher's american cheese, 1 serving	45	1	290	2
	279	6	682	10
Snack
	Calories	Fiber, total dietary	Sodium, Na	Carbohydrates
Shadybrook Farms Smoked Turkey Bacon, 1 serving	35	0	140	0
Skinny Cow Chocolate Ice Cream Sandwich, 1 serving	140	3	95	30
Fage - 0%, 6 oz	90	0	64	7
Walnuts, 1 oz (14 halves)	189	2	1	4
Jell-0 Sugar Free pudding (double choc) 60 cal snack pack, 1 serving	60	0	170	14
Reddi Whip, 2 tbsp	15	0	0	0
sabra hummus roasted red pepper, 4 tbsp	140	2	240	6
Peppers, sweet, red, fresh, 1 medium (approx 2-3/4" long, 2-1/2" dia)	32	2	2	8
	701	9	712	68
	1,789	26	3,280	117
	1400 - 1500	25 - 35	500 - 2300	158 - 244

Food Journal: 02.05.10

yeahilikeitstore@gmail.com (Jenn) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 00:12:00 +0000

I had two NSV's today that were food related!

I went to the mall with the kids today. The mall is usually a danger zone for me (Hello, Cinnabon!). But today I packed snacks beforehand - "toddler trail mix" for the girls (baggies with Goldfish crackers and Craisins), and an ounce of mixed nuts for me. I had NO desire to get something doughy and sugary while we were there. I got a small cup of coffee, which I didn't even finish, ate my nuts with the girls, and went on my merry way. Joy!

I made myself a small bowl of fat free Greek yogurt for a snack, and about 3/4 of the way through it I realized I was satisfied and didn't need to eat anymore. I LEFT THE REST IN THE BOWL. I couldn't believe it - I didn't clean my plate! Alert CNN!!! :-)

Overall it was an excellent day in my little diet world. And check out my calories today - 1,280?? Seriously? I wasn't trying to eat that little, but hey, I'll take it! My fiber intake was pitiful today (gotta get those beans in there), but my sodium level was super! Yay!

Have a good night, everyone!

	Calories	Fiber, total dietary	Sodium, Na	Carbohydrates
Friday, February 5, 2010
Breakfast
Egg, fresh, 2 large	149	0	126	1
Egg white, 1 serving	17	0	55	0
Laughing Cow Light Creamy French Onion 1 wedge, 1 serving	35	0	260	1
Half and Half Cream, 3 tbsp	59	0	18	2
	260	0	459	4
Lunch
	Calories	Fiber, total dietary	Sodium, Na	Carbohydrates
Romaine Lettuce (salad), 3 cup, shredded	24	3	13	4
Tomato, grape (3oz = appro 12 tomatoes), 1 oz	8	0	0	2
Celery, raw, 0.25 cup, diced	5	1	26	1
fresh gourmet crispy onion, 2 tbsp	47	0	0	5
KEN'S Steakhouse Light Ranch Dressing, 2 tbsp	80	0	310	6
Ham Russer Light, 3 oz	90	0	675	3
Bell Pepper, Red - 1 cup chopped, 0.25 serving	10	1	2	2
	263	4	1,026	24
Dinner
	Calories	Fiber, total dietary	Sodium, Na	Carbohydrates
London Broil, 4 oz	224	0	52	0
Olive Oil, 0.5 tbsp	60	0	0	0
Kikkoman Lite Soy Sauce, 0.5 tbsp	5	0	288	1
Green Beans (snap), 1 cup	34	4	7	8
Smart Balance Buttery Spread, 0.33 tbsp	26	0	30	0
	349	4	376	8
Snack
	Calories	Fiber, total dietary	Sodium, Na	Carbohydrates
Ghiradelli Cocoa powder ( unsweetened), 1 tbsp	15	1	0	3
Fage - 0%, 6 oz	90	0	64	7
Half and Half Cream, 3 tbsp	59	0	18	2
Jell-0 Sugar Free pudding (double choc) 60 cal snack pack, 1 serving	60	0	170	14
Reddi Whip, 2 tbsp	15	0	0	0
Emerald Mixed Nuts, 1 oz	170	2	95	6
	409	3	347	32
	1,280	11	2,208	68
	1400 - 1500	25 - 35	500 - 2300	158 - 244

Watch My Butt Shrink! A Weight Loss Blog

The Oscars Ain't Got Nothing On Me!

A gun to my head

Retro Butt Shrinking: Then and Now: My First Three Months

I wanted to share this post again, because I think it's so important to look back and see how far you've come in your process. In just three months, I saw significant changes in my life and my body, and those changes really motivated me to keep going.

Then And Now: My First Three Months

Retro Butt Shrinking: Fat Girl Says Hi-Yah!

Fat Girl Says Hi-yah!

Retro Butt Shrinking: Being Fat Made Me a Better Person

Retro Butt Shrinking: You Like Me! Do You? Really?

Magic Bullet Winner!

I hate to repeat myself...

Rockin' Recipe! Zamazing Zucchini Bread

Mix It Up! GIVEAWAY

Psst! Hey, you...

Permission to Binge: The Aftermath

Message Received

Ah'll Be Bahck...

Permission to binge, sir!

Hungry like the wolf

A Love-ly Weekend

Weigh In Day! Awwwww, yeahhh.....

The South Beach Diet: Phase I - Complete!

Snow day!

Its party time in Maryland, and - the truth about Canadian Bacon

It's a new dawn, it's a new day...

Food Journal: 02.07.10

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Snack

Food Journal: 02.06.10

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Snack

Food Journal: 02.05.10

Friday, February 5, 2010

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Snack