Christmas is Coming...the BigLoser's getting fat...

...please put a penny in the old man's hat!

It's Christmastime! A time of plenty - plenty of holiday parties, cookies, snacks, home-baked goodies...

I can hardly stand it!

I had been doing so well to get rid of the holiday weight from Thanksgiving off my body and shed a few more pounds...but now, I'm headed in the wrong direction. I have tried to be good, but the past few days have started out slowly, but are snowballing downward. Thursday was the holiday lunch at work - a lot of stress...lots of bad food. I wasn't even thinking of what I ate as I was grabbing something quickly to get back to work.

I got some homemade fried rice from a lady at work. YUMMY! Shrimp, rice and veggies...doesn't seem too bad. But then I had some Triscuits with it. I had pancakes for breakfast, a coke, some fried rice...a biscotti with my coffee...it's way too crazy!

My parents will be here in about 2 hours. I will be leaving for a cruise on Monday and the family holiday celebration is on the 28th. It's going to be a long, hard 2 weeks if I don't get on a plan here right away.

I won't be blogging until I return - hopefully it will be a good 2 weeks and not bad. Keep me in your prayers!

A HEALTHY BREAKFAST!

I have been able to drop over 12 lbs. since Thanksgiving by sticking very diligently to the "You...On a Diet" plan. So, in order to help others, I'll share some of the wonderful foods that I have been eating.

Here's my favorite (and most common) breakfast: a bowl of oatmeal with blueberries and skim milk, a cup of coffee and a glass of orange juice.

Another breakfast favorite: scrambled eggs, two turkey sausage links, coffee and juice.
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Either breakfast is a great way to start off your day. There are some whole wheat toast options with peanut butter, but I'm more of a "filling" breakfast type of person. I like my breakfast!
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On the weekends, I add a piece of whole wheat toast and make sunny-side eggs, instead of scrambled - that is my favorite breakfast in the whole world!

In a couple days, I'll give you some of my favorite lunch options.
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Until then, don't forget your breakfast - it's the most important meal of the day!

Another 2...

It seems that this "You...On A Diet" is working for me. I cannot believe the numbers on the scale. Everyday - a few more ounces - a pound here, a pound there. I am completely and utterly amazed.

I have been trying for over 9 months to lose weight unsuccessfully and now, it's like melting off of me - and all without excessive exercising (don't tell my trainer).

I was so frustrated when I injured myself 3 weeks ago that I decided I was going to go whole-heartedly on this diet and hold to it - no matter what. And that is what I have done. The one time I was thinking I was straying, I actually made some really good choices and it didn't affect me.

Now, I can start going to the gym again. I plan on it today. Nothing too strenuous. I still have to let my foot heel the remainder of the way, but there's a lot that I can do that won't put a lot of strain on the foot.

I am very excited! I lost another 2 lbs - just since yesterday. I'm not sure how this is working, but I'm not complaining and will take every pound I can get. The number on the scale is absolutely the lowest that has been on this scale in 2008. I'm hoping it will be the highest number on the scale for the remainder of the year.

So, if I had to throw out some thoughtful wisdom for you today - I'd say this, "DON'T QUIT!" More than just a cliche', it should be a mantra to push you through, no matter how bleak the circumstances or how slow the results!

I'm FREE!!!

I got a release - I'm free from the aircast walker !!!

The doctor is ruling out any major tears or damage and is now leaning towards the fact that I just bruised my heel (plantar fascia). So, I now have a fancy pair of orthotics to insert into my sneakers that I should have with all my shoes from this day forth to prevent this repetitive injury from getting out of control.

I can start going back to the gym and doing physical activity - but I have to limit the impact for the next 2 weeks. So, I will start some walking and some strength-training - tomorrow!!! Yeah.

I feel pretty good with those fancy orthotics. I've been running up and down the stairs at work and feeling as light as a feather!

Also, with 11 less pounds on my body (yes, 11 since Thanksgiving) - I feel even lighter.

This is a good direction I'm headed in. Look forward to the New Year. I will roll into the New Year with some good momentum and with the prospect of new year's resolutions and the slow-down of "life" in general, I'm setting myself up to be ain a great place come January 1st!

I'm hoping you'll continue to walk (or maybe run) this journey with me as I continue!

Today is the Day!

Today I have my follow-up with the foot doctor.

Pray that I get an OK to resume normal activity - of course, at a "start slow" pace.

I'll try to update this afternoon!

Foot Follies continue...

It seems that just because your foot feels fine that maybe you're not as healed as you think you are!

I went all weekend with a tape job (that I modelled from the internet). It did well, if I was wearing sneakers. But yesterday, I decided to wear some dressier shoes to church. They weren't high heels or anything like that, but they were a pair of dress loafers with a bit of a heel. Ok. SO that hurt!

By the end of church, I was limping again. I spent the rest of the day with my heel feeling sore. Even this morning, I decided I was going to put the walking boot back on until my appointment tomorrow.

I would really like to be done with this walking boot so that I can focus on some fun things, like running and preparing for some winter sports (ie: Skiing, snowboarding, sledding, etc...). So pray that I get a good report tomorrow and that the doctor will allow me to go 100% without the boot and to start exercising again.

On the other hand, this time of limited activity has caused me to really focus in on my diet. I have done very well. Even the one day that I thought I was cheating slightly on lunch, I realized that I made some really good choices on that cheat and didn't really cheat...

So, what have been the results you might ask???? Look up at my running back, he's moved ahead a few yards and he finally got the first-down!

Only 2 more days!

As an addition to the Foot Chronicles...

I have only 2 more days until my follow-up appointment with the Podiatrist. I'm hoping he says I can do whatever...like, going to the gym!

I taped my foot up today to walk around while I was shopping and stuff...it didn't hurt. I didn't limp. I think it is doing pretty well on it's own.

I've been following the diet really well. I have been on a roll. I think it's only a matter of 2-3 days before I finally hit that elusive 10 lb. mark that I've been aiming for over the past few months...

So, this has gotten to be pretty boring. So, I'll stop.

Only 2 more days!

The Foot Chronicles...

I have been very diligent over this week of sticking to the "You Diet" plan. In doing so, I have lost the 7 lbs I gained over the past few weeks - putting me back at my original 9 lbs worth of weight loss since March.

Because I am still waiting for the "all clear" from the doctor - I have not ventured into the gym yet. But that hopefully comes on Tuesday - PRAY PRAY PRAY!!! I have been bad and took that aircast off the last two days. My foot is a bit tired, but it feels and walks fine - no pain. Though, I might be good and throw it on if I have to keep running up and down the stairs at work. Maybe...

So, only a few more days...

It's Time for Plan B!

Plan A: Go to gym at lunchtime everyday and burn around 300 calories in 30-40 minutes and watch what I eat (moderately).

Ok. Scratch that. With an injury to my foot that I'm told needs to be immobilized - cardio as I currently know it is out - at least until December 9th. So...

Plan B: Go to the gym every other day for some strength training and modified cardio (go hand-bike!) and go on a strict diet.

BOOOOOO! I don't like Plan B. I like to cheat every once-in-awhile. I can't do that anymore. I can't afford the calories. So, it's time to go all out and watch every calorie that I consume.

So, today is day one.

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Breakfast: Oatmeal with blueberries and skim milk, coffee and 8 oz of orange juice
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AM Snack: Fat-free yogurt with raisins
Peppermint herbal tea
Lunch: Veggie burger with tomato on whole wheat flatbread
Diet Coke
PM Snack: Banana and hand-full of sunflower seeds
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Dinner: Asian Salmon with brown rice pilaf
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Dessert: 1 oz. dark chocolate with orange slices

That's day one. Tomorrow - we start and again! And then, we'll do some strength training at the gym. Maybe I'll focus on the arms and abs...