Back on the Peach Truck

So, its time to get back on the peach truck. Obviously, I did not meet my goal of 145 lbs by my son's 3rd birthday. However, its time to jump back on the right path and get myself moving again.

So, the past 6 months have been pretty good. I got all the way down to 172 lb, but over the past few months have been to lax on my exercise and diet plan. My plan is to go back to my small plate diet, exercise once per day, and special occasion list. Here we go again!

Date: 12/5/2010
Weight: 182 lb
Goal #1: Lose 8 lbs by 1/2/2011 ( 2 lbs per week) -- 174 lb
Reward: $100 to Vacation Fund

12/5/2010
Breakfast: Pumpkin Don-nut and Coffee with Cream and Sugar
Lunch: Ham Sandwich, Berry Mix, Olive with Feta, 2 drop cookies
Dinner: 2 snack plates - one after 1st performance, 1 after 2nd performance
Exercise: None - too tired from 3 hours of playing flute/piccolo at Christmas concert :(

12/6/2010
Breakfast: Drop Cookies
Lunch: Potluch Salad Lunch / Ranch and Fritos snack in afternoon
Dinner: Pancakes and Smoked Sausage / Peppermint Hot Chocolate
Exercise: None - headcold and met up with friend at Starbucks

12/7/2010
Breakfast: Peppermint Mocha and 3 petite vanilla scones
Lunch: Ham Sandwich and Banana
Dinner: Smoked Sausage and Pasta Au Gratin
Exercise: The Firm Total Muscle Workout (45 minutes cardio and strength)

12/8/2010
Breakfast: Smoked Sausage and Pasta Au Gratin
Lunch: Smoked Sausage and Pasta Au Gratin and Banana
Dinner: Chick-fil-a Kids meal with Large Sweet Tea
Exercise: The Firm Fat Blasting Cardio (30 minutes cardio and strength)

12/9/2010
Breakfast: Smoked Sausage and Pasta Au Gratin
Lunch:
Dinner:
Exercise: Run/Walk around lake (1 mile, 15 minutes)

12/10/2010
Breakfast:
Lunch:
Dinner:
Exercise:

12/11/2010
Breakfast:
Lunch:
Dinner:
Exercise:

A Peachy Update - Week 7, Day 4

Weight: 177 lb (but the doctor's office said 173 lb - wow, that's the first time I've ever weighed LESS at the doctor!)

Exercise: Jillian 2 or 3 everyday, except the weekend. Took several long walks / played outside with the kids over the 3 day weekend.

Diet: More portion control than dieting, but doing pretty well.

Summertime is here! It has been hot and muggy already, and summer hasn't officially arrived yet! It feels like it is going to be a long, hot summer! This has impaired our family's evening walks (since the Heat Index is in the 90s still at that time), but Fuzzy Hubby and I are still going strong with our evening date with Jillian. Originally, I took Vicki Courtney's advice and went from Jillian 1 to Jillian 3, and now have been mixing up level 2 and 3 each two days. I think it has made level 2 not so daunting after working at the "beginner" level on level 3 for a week or so.

I'm feeling the need for a "kick start" to get the weight loss going again, so I'm gonna try to stay consistent with the special occasions list. Hopefully, I'll see that 174 lb goal in the next couple of weeks! Wish me luck!

Love,
The soon to be little peach

Peachy Update - Week 6, Day 1

Weight: 178 lb


Exercise: Thursday - 45 min Wii Cardio, Friday - 45 min Wii Cardio & Jillian - 3, Saturday - rest, Sunday - 45 min Wii Cardio, Monday - Jillian 3 and evening neighborhood walk


Diet: Thursday - Cheese and Crackers, PB Crackers, Steak Sammie, and Texas Roadhouse; Friday - 1/2 Cinnamon roll, Greek Food Festival, 1/2 sammie, veggie and strawberries; Saturday - Pancakes and Bacon, Chili Dog and Carrots / Ranch, Reception Food; Sunday - Baklava, Donut, Chili w crackers, Baklava, and 1/2 Chicken Salad Sammie; Monday (ok - back to diet today!) - Yogurt and PB Crackers, Grilled Cheese and Chips, Spinach Salad and 1/2 Twice Baked Potato.



While these last couple of weeks have not given me the weight loss I have anticipated, I have been very pleased with my progress. 12 lbs in 5 weeks is a pretty good loss, and I feel like I have more energy than before. I haven't pulled out the tape measure yet, but I'm sure that I have lost some inches as well.

I still LOVE food, but thankfully after that first week or so, it has been nice that I am full a lot faster. For example, this year at the Greek Food Festival, I was full after one Greek Plate -- as opposed to years past where I would be able to eat and eat and eat.

Still a long way to go -- but I'm headed in the right direction!

Love,
The soon to be little peach

Peachy Update - Week 5, Day 4

Weight: 179 lb
Exercise: Friday -Jillian 1, Saturday - Pilates, Sunday -rest, Monday - Jillian 3, Tuesday - Jillian 3, Wednesday - rest
Diet: Pretty good -- ate meals off small plates. It was nice to recognize that "full feeling" with the small plates, and now just have to work on eating out / keeping it up!

I'm still getting over the skin issue (and on medicine that's stated side effect is "weight gain"), and also picked up a lovely cold on Sunday. It's been a little rough week :) Praying to get to feeling better, no eat EVERYTHING at this weekend's Greek Food Festival (and various showers and receptions), exercise daily, and get out each day this weekend with the kids at a park / playground (it's raining today, so hopefully it will clear up soon!)

Have a fantastic weekend!

Love,
The soon to be little peach

Peachy Update -- Week 4, Day 5

Weight: 180 lb
Exercise: Wii Cardio, took Friday off, Jillian-1, Jillian 2, took Mother's Day off Wii Cardio, Jillian-1, sick day, Wii Yoga
Diet: Quite a bit of eating out, but did ok. Weekend menu planned, and trying to counter the effects of perscription (see below)

So, it has been a little disappointing this week with the weight loss, however I know that its not all my fault. Last Saturday and Sunday, I spent a few hours in the garden. By Monday, my hands looked like I had gotten into ants, and by Tuesday I was feeling pretty bad. Wednesday, I had another reaction all over the left side of my face and finally broke down and got a doctor's appointment. Thankfully, there was a cancellation, and I was able to go on Thursday (instead of Monday). A diagnosis of contact derm, and a perscription have put me back on the mend. I have also picked up a new pair of gardening gloves :)

Plan for the week -- keep on doing work with Jillian and get back to eating at home (since its much easier over eat when you are out on the town)

Happy Weekend!

Love,
Soon to be the little peach

Stamp Out Hunger

Here was my donation for "Stamp Out Humger" -- 8.5 lbs of food! I'll update later this week on progress (down 1 lb, but no major events). Have a happy Monday!

Peachy Update -- Week 3, Day 4

Weight: 180 lb
Exercise: Jillian-1 on Monday, Jillian-2 on Tuesday, and Wii Cardio Workout/CL Arm Workout on Wednesday
Diet: Pretty good since Sunday. Sunday night was "Deli Tray" (crackers, deli meat, cheese, fresh mushrooms and grape tomatoes with a little ranch), Monday was Banana breakfast, HC Meal for lunch, and Red Beans and Rice and Asparagus for dinner. Tuesday was Cereal Bar for breakfast, HC Meal for lunch, and Pork Tenderloin and WW easy fried rice for dinner. Wednesday was banana breakfast, coffee at work, peanut butter crackers for lunch, and Chick-fil-a for dinner.

I'm proud to say that I have reached my 4 week goal of getting to 182lb! Good job, me! I'm still working on finding the place to donate the money for 8 lbs of food. I will probably do something with the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive on Saturday. I am also excited about getting a mani-pedi combo at some point this weekend!

Keeping my eye on the prize, my next goal is 174lb. I have six more pounds to go to get to 174, so I am going to change my goal date to week 7 (May 30th) for this benchmark. Wish me luck!

Well, my stomach is growling so I better go get a healthy breakfast!

Love,
The soon to be little peach

Peachy Update - Week 2, Day 7

Weight: 183 lb
Exercise: Jillian-1 on Wednesday, Wii Fitness Coach Cardio on Thursday, Jillian-2 today (power outage on Friday night and girls weekend on Saturday night). A couple of days of arm workout
Diet: BAD peach :( Travel, eating out, etc. It was a rough week on portion control and healthy eating. However, I already have a meal plan for this week -- so at least I have a plan!

I had a GREAT time this weekend with some of my college friends for a little Girl's weekend celebrating the upcoming marriage of one of my sorority sisters. However, it was not so productive for my waistline - ha! I was glad to jump on the scales today and see that I didn't do too much damage, but know that I've gotta jump back on the train to keep making progress!

I've set up my meal plan for the week, and about to hit the store.

Love,
The soon to be Little Peach

Peachy Update - Week 2, Day 2

Weight: 183 lb
Exercise: Daily Jillian (took a rest day on Sunday), 3 nightly walks, 2 Cooking Light Arm workouts
Diet: Still eating on small plates, and doing well. Main thing is finding distraction when the stomach growls mid-morning and mid afternoon. Treated myelf to Strawberry Ice Cream on Saturday night and a Smore in Sunday night -- other than that, things are going well.

Day 6 was probably the "turning point." Those first few days of a diet can be rough! You are grouchy, sore, tired, and hungry! Finally, I woke up Saturday morning feeling pretty good. Woo Hoo!

I will be tested this week, as I have a few special events that will leave me eating out for a few meals. Planning has become my new friend, and thankfully websites are great to show you what foods are on the menu! Hopefully pre-planning will help me make the best choices.

Love,
The soon to be little peach

Peachy Update -- Week 1, Day 5

Weight: 186 lb
Exercise: Daily Jillian for 4 days straight (woo hoo!), 3 neighborhood walks, 1 Pre-K choir class, 1 May 2010 Cooking Light Arm Workout (pg. 66-68).
Diet: The past 4.5 days have gone well. Each day has started with Breakfast (small smoothie + protien/grain). Lunches -- 2 days of Healthy Choice meals, 2 days of leftovers, and 1day half Firehouse sub, chips and fruit. Dinner -- most days have been good. Monday - 1/2 Chicken Sicily + Asparagus (1/2 strawberry shortcake for dessert), Tuesday - Red Beans and Rice, Asparagus, and Cornbread, Wednesday - (BAD -- ate leftovers of kids McDonalds), and Thursday - Ham and Cheese Quiche, Baked Zucchini sticks.

Week 1 has been ok. Fuzzy Hubby told me he heard something on NPR saying that weight loss in women is difficult because they are hungrier than men. Nice....not exactly what I wanted to hear, but gave me a nice perspective on things :) So my mantra has become "Being Hungry doesn't mean you have to eat." I have tried to go with drinking water/unsweet tea before grabbing the snack / 2nd helping -- and its worked! Now, my stomach is growling as a write this, but otherwise the plan has gone pretty well. The weather today has been a little crazy -- the area is under a moderate risk for severe weather this afternoon. It was get cloudy and ominous, and then sunshine, and then back again. But, I did get out early this morning and mowed part of the lawn and took the kids on a good walk.

Gotta go plan dinner and to my 2nd arm workout. Want to get those good arms for summer sleeveless shirt season!

Love,
The Soon to be Little Peach

The Peachy Plan

Peachy Weight Loss Goals / Incentives

4 Week (May 9) -- Be at 182 lb (8 lb total loss)
8 Week (June 6) -- Be at 174 lb (16 lb total loss)
12 Week (July 4) -- Be at 166 lb (24 lb total loss)
16 Week (August 1) -- Be at 158 lb (32 lb total loss)
20 Week (August 29) -- Be at 150 lb (40 lb total loss)
23 Week (September 19) -- Be at 145 lb (45 lb total loss)

I have another friend who is loosing weight at this time, and she is giving away 1 lb of food to a needy shelter for every 1 lb of weight she looses. For now, that is my main incentive. There are several good hunger orgaznizations out there, and I will send a check at each weight-in for the weight lost.

Other incentives -- since its flip-flop season here, if I make my goal weights, I will treat myself to a manicure/pedicure combo. I'm not really sure how to celebrate at the end, so hopefully ideas will come.

The Peachy Girl's Plan

Here is the plan for this Peachy Girl:

Peachy Girl's hunky husband, we'll call him Fuzzy Hubby, is also on this journey with me. However, I fully anticipate him reaching his goal in the next few weeks (while mine will take a little more time and sacrifice).

At 5 feet 5 inches, a healthy BMI of 20-25 is between 120 and 150 lb. My weight loss goal by my son's 3rd birthday (December 2010) is to be at 145 lb (back to my "best adult self" weight in 2003). On Sunday, April 17, 2010 I was 190 lb (ouch!). If I can lose 2 lbs a week (healthy weight loss suggestion), then I should be at my goal in 23 weeks (September 26, 2010).

Fuzzy Hubby and I are committed to doing Jillian's 30 day Shred for the next 30 days (Monday, April 18 - Tuesday, May 18) in the evenings either right before or after the kids go to bed. After this "habit former," we will then reassess and either add the Wi "My Personal Fitness Trainer" workouts, or some of the other DVDs collecting dust on the shelf to our nightly routine. We will also do our best to walk, garden, play with the kids outside, etc to burn off a few extra calories from the day (easier during this nice Springtime weather).

In addition to exercise, we are committed to portion control and healthy eating. First, I am eating all meals on my 8 inch salad plates, rather than 12 inch dinner plates. Second, No 2nd helpings, and will reach for 1 big glass of water 1st before heading to the pantry for a snack. Seeking to reach a healthy diet, I will try to have 1 grain, 1 protein, 2 fruits/vegetables per meal. For now, alcohol and sweets will only be reserved for special occasions (3-4 times per month), and should only have 1 serving per day (for example -- 1 glass or wine or 1 serving of cake, etc).

The first thing to be cut from peachy girl's diet is one of her favorites -- Sweet Tea! I'm not giving it up -- but it is on my "special occasion" list. To help ease the urge of McDonald's Sweet Tea (or Sonic Sweet Tea, or McAlister's Sweet Tea (you get the idea)), I have dug out my water bottles from last summer's swim stuff. They are ready for the day each morning, and filled with ice and water.

So -- that is the plan. Portion Control, Daily Exercise, and Special Occasion Lists. Let's see how this goes!

This peachy girl's gonna get healthy

This is my journal to reach a healthy weight, maintain an active lifestyle, and just general better living so that I can live my life to the fullest. I am a southern gal active with my family, church, and some community organizations. I work part-time as an engineer, and the rest of my time is busy just keeping the house in somewhat order!

My weight/fitness journey -- I would say that I was an average sized gal growing up. I stayed active through dance, cheer leading, and marching band through high school and never really had to watch what I ate. Once I went to college, I of course added the dreaded freshmen 15, and was about 160 once I graduated college and got married at 22. The next 18 months were fabulous as far as fitness -- while working on our graduate degrees, my husband and I were able to use our colleges activity center, and I did aerobics classes (step, kickboxing, high/low, etc) 3-4 times per week for 1 hour per day. Since we were young, graduate students with a small income, we also did a lot of "grilled cheese and tomato soup" and ate out less. By the time we finished graduate school, I was 145 and probably in the best shape since the end of high school.

We moved back home, and never joining a gym probably was my downfall. I would try to stay in good shape by exercise videos, church/apartment gym equipment, but with a busy job and now more flexible income for dinner parties and nights out with friends, my weight began to creep up again. Pregnancy #1 started at about 160, topped off at 200, and pretty quickly reached 165 and while weaning DD got down to 155. Then.......Pregnancy #2 came along with a max gain of 190, and quickly reached 170 after birth. I stayed at 170-175 until DS weaned at 14 months. Unfortunately, I was still eating like I had a nursing kiddo, and the calories just went to all areas of the body. A year has past, and I have hit 190 again and realize that this will not come off without a serious plan and some serious action.