Atkins (or rather my failure at it)

I am not a big fan of diets. I know what I need to do to lose weight but have been lacking in motivation lately. My mind has been going back to my doctor appointment last year when I was told to go on a "low-carb low-fat diet" and eat no more than 1,000 calories. I thought it was asinine. But eventually I learned that 1,000-1,200 calories was perfect for me to lose weight. So if he was right about that maybe I should try low-carb/low-fat. I do have hypoglycemia so it wouldn't hurt to try it. I saw the Atkins book at Walmart and decided to buy it.

I was telling my friend (and co-worker) that I had bought the book to read up on it and possibly implement some of it into my life. She has done it before and told me that if I decided to do it, she would also. We picked today as our starting day.

I was doing good up until lunch. Rather than going to my well-stocked somewhat-Atkins-friendly house I ran out to my fave taco chain and got a taco salad figuring it has lots of protein and veggies that are low in carbs. Little did I know that it contained 60 carbs. I figure 20 were probably from the tortilla which I never eat anyway but that still leaves 40 from the black and pinto beans. Considering that during the induction weeks you are only supposed to consume 20 carbs, I would say that was a big oops. I am still going to try to keep my carbs to a minimum but I will not be too hard on myself and I will probably not check nutrition info on a website AFTER I eat the food (maybe not even before, either).

(Note: Not to throw my friend under the bus, but she ate lasagna for lunch. Atkins is hard.)

Checkin' 'Em Off

This past weekend I got so much stuff done that I have been putting off. I love that feeling. Like the weight is slowly being flicked off your shoulders with each task checked off. I really wish I felt this ambitious every weekend but I don't.

I know I am not the only person with a house that doesn't seem to get clean. And if it does get clean, it doesn't stay that way. I spent most of my weekend going through paperwork, picking things up, dusting, dishes, scrubbing, putting away groceries, cooking and making my weekly menu. I felt so organized and the cleaner it was the more organized I felt. I even worked out on the elliptical for over 1/2 hour today. I haven't been on it for almost a year.

Maybe it is the exercise. I just feel better. I don't want to question it. I hope this feeling doesn't go away.

Level 2, Baby

I moved up to Level 2 in "The Shred". If you are not familiar with it, "30 Day Shred" is an exercise program by Jillian Michaels that consists of 3 levels. Each level is a warmup, 20 minute strength/cardio/ab workout and cooldown. Total time is around 30 minutes. Also, one of my co-workers is thinking about selling his Wii so he borrowed me his EA Sports Active to try it out. If he does decide to sell I may buy the game. From the 30 minutes I spent using Monday night, I really liked it. The only things I didn't like about it was (a) the strap would fall off if I didn't have it strapped really tight and (b) it was clumsy using the controllers with the resistance band. Once I got the hang of it, it got better.

My weight hasn't changed much, if any, since my last post. I am still waking up early to exercise and it is worth it because I do feel better throughout the day. My appetite is starting to go back to normal. I guess hope it was an adjustment period.

A few years ago I joined the Y so I could join a weight lifting class. I started using the elliptical, lifting free-weights and Mark and I would run afterward. I always felt really good afterward. I don't really know how or why I stopped but I did. I never realized how much I missed it.

5:30 a.m.

That is the time I get up to do Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred. I tried eating a banana before and cereal after Monday and Tuesday. Each day I would eat my weight in snacks throughout the day. I was never satisfied. Today I tried eating my Cheerios before and a hard-boiled egg afterward. No difference. I ate so much throughout the day. I am frustrated. Even though my weight was down this morning I do not like the feeling of being out of control. Just a couple months ago I could go all morning (after breakfast) with just a cup of coffee, now I have gone through all my calories before I even get home. The workout isn't easy but it isn't enough for me to be able to eat that much.

I hope my body just needs to adjust because I really do like getting up to do the workout. I feel much better throughout the day.

Cleanup

The weekend is over and I am wondering why I didn't clean on Sunday when I had a whole day to dedicate to it (I am really wondering why I didn't take care of that leftover green bean casserole I made Christmas Eve, don't judge please). It took me about an hour to finish the dishes...and I have a dishwasher! I started putting away Christmas decorations earlier today and may even finish putting away the tree ornaments (minus one, don't ever move something by tossing it toward a Christmas tree, things get broke).

I can't wait to reclaim my house, about as much as I can anyway. It seems like now that we have Amelia, it is her house and a very pink one at that. I look forward to a day when I don't have frosting, cake mixes, candy coating, containers and junk food lying around my house. It may take until Valentine's day but that day will come and I will miss the junk food. My scale will rejoice. So far since Thanksgiving I have gained 3 pounds. I wished I could have been better but it isn't SO bad if you consider every weekend plus the work week I have been surrounded by junk food.

Now, time to take it back off plus another 10-15 lbs. As soon as I get my house cleaned.

A few changes

My wardrobe will be changing. I have gone into my pre-pregnancy clothes and pulled out 2 pairs of dress pants, 2 pairs of jeans and a couple shirts that up until now, did not fit. Only 3 more lbs to go before I have taken off ALL the pregnancy weight. After that, I have about 10 more that I would like to lose. Yay!!!! I am so excited.

Relaxing and Productive...

Oddly those are the two words I use to describe the weekend. Earlier this week I suggested my parents take Amelia to Papa's Pumpkin Patch Saturday. I knew they would all have fun (I was right). Mark was working so that meant I had the house to myself (okay, I was sharing it with my puppy, Cassius). I originally thought I would get a lot of house work done and I did get a few things accomplished. Then realized, I don't get much time alone so I sat down on the couch and watched tv and just hung out by myself. It was awesome. I missed my little family but I don't get a whole lot of alone time before 10:00 p.m.

Sunday, Mark's mom came over so I had to get my butt in gear and clean. I got the bathrooms cleaned, the living room and the kitchen cleaned. I rocked. But once again, my living room floor is covered with toys, my kitchen floor is probably all sticky again and my sink has dishes in it. But dude, I am tired and it will all have to wait until tomorrow.

One of these nights I am going to start Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred. I am not sure when but I definitely need to start something. I am falling off track with my weight loss goals. I keep wondering whatever happened to the gym rat who loved to work out. Maybe I will find her again buried under what is left of the pregnancy weight.