Keeping it A Secret

I found this article on Spark People.  A website I signed up for to help motivate me to lose weight.
www.dailyspark.com/blog.asp?post=should_you_keep_your_weight_loss_plan_a_secret
It discusses how keeping you weight loss plans a secret can help you.  Because when you tell someone about your plans they usually already give you the recognition that you were looking for so you already feel like you accomplished your goal.
I have been thinking that is main reason I have not been able to do what I did in my first 6 months.  I just never knew what to do about it.  People saw my difference and they kept saying something.  So from now on I will try to not let anyone know what I am doing.  But I do have a workout buddy and it would be fun to do it with her.  But no more posting on facebook  about my plans.  Only posting on this blog.
  OH!! I am don't think I'm gonna win my goal of losing weight in December...I was up to 262 this morning.  I haven't seen this number in 8 months.  YIKES!!

MY day

This morning I went up 258.0 lbs Bummer!  Oh well, I did eat junk yesterday.  It could have been worse.  Anyway, I wasn't feeling myself today and I barely ate anything.  Just wanted to update a little to remember each day.  My dinner was an English Muffin with cranberry orange cream cheese...Nothing since then..8:30pm
We'll weigh in tomorrow.
I am so excited to use my new straightener tomorrow!!  And also our church Christmas Feast.  I am interested to see who I will be seated next to since it's gonna be assigned seating (first time they are doing that for a Christmas Feast).  I still have no idea what to wear.  I seriously have on black dress and that's it, unless I wanna wear the same thing I always wear.

Christmas Questions

THIS IS MY SECOND POST FOR THE DAY.  THIS FUN SURVEY IS GOING AROUND BLOGWORLD, SO I DECIDED TO DO IT TOO.

1. Eggnog or Hot Chocolate?  Oh man, that is hard to decide because I like both, But I think I would go with eggnog for right now.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or leave them under the tree? we never believed in Santa But I think of those gifts being left under the tree.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?  White on the house and colored on the tree.  Or sometimes I like the opposite.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? Never have.

5. When do you hang your decorations up? As soon as I can after Thanksgiving.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (besides dessert)? oh man, It's not a Christmas meal without home-made mashed potatoes and deviled eggs

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? I don't really have one.  I loved playing in the snow.  I loved taking my gifts to my room and using them or putting them on my dresser etc.  I loved the traditions we had.  NO specific memory.

8. What is on your Christmas wish list?  LOTS OF GIFT CARDS!!!?  I'm pretty much getting myself presents this year.

9. Do you open any gifts on Christmas Eve?  no, it's just me so no reason to.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree?  Starting with the lights...

11. Snow.  Love it or dread it?  I'm lost without it.  It's not really Christmas until I get snow.

12. Real tree of fake tree? Real...though I have spent a few Christmas's with a fake one.  

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?  We never got what we asked for...so nope.

14.  What is the most important thing about Christmas for you? Remembering why we celebrate it.

15. What is your favorite holiday dessert?  My mom's pecan pie...I'm learning to make that myself this year.

16. What is your favorite tradition?  Having friends fill the house for fun  and laughing.

17. What tops your tree?  I would go for a star or angel.

18. Do you prefer giving or receiving?  Man that's hard.  I love giving gifts but it doesn't feel right to not get some.

19. What is your favorite Christmas song?  Silent Night

20. Candy Canes, yuck or yum?  Yum, even though I don't go crazy on them.  One thing we always did was put candy canes on the tree.

21. Favorite Christmas Movie? Little Women, now The Nativity Story

22. What do you leave for Santa?  Nothing.

23. Do you have a Christmas morning tradition?  No, we never opened our gifts right away.  It as different every year.

24. Do you prefer to shop online or at the mall?  I like to go to the mall but after this year I might stick to online.  I can just click and smile.

25. Christmas letter, or Christmas card? Card-I love getting them and receiving them.

A happy Face

I weighed in this morning at 256.6  That's down 3 lbs from yesterday.  I knew the "no eating after 9" would work.  I had a great breakfast this morning of

2 Fresh squeezed oranges, 1 small carrot; chex mix with rice milk, 2 veggie patties, and 2 eggs.  Yummy!

The I headed to my church to do some painting.  So this is were I was from 12-5:30.  I didn't think I would be there all day but this wall was stubborn. And I took my movie "The Help" with me to keep me occupied while I waited for the first coat to dry.  That is a good movie, by the way.  

I got some stuff I ordered in the mail.  Along with a free cozy Christmas tree blanket.  It's thinner than I thought, but I think it's cool.  I refused to eat after 9 today but I am not sure what's gonna happen on that scale tomorrow because I didn't make extremely good choices today.  Lunch was two Cheetos bags and about 12 oreos...then tonight I had a slice of my cheese cake (240 calories/slice) after dinner(scallops, rice, alfalfa sprouts, home made tomato/garlic sauce).

   One thing I forgot to mention - The day after the fast I came home from work to make myself a juice.  I was wanted something with tomato so I made a tomato/onion drink.  It called for cilantro and jalapenos too but I don't like them.  So I used Parsley and red bell pepper.  It was really good on my first big gulp.  So I started to clean up my juicer and took 2 more big gulps.  Well All the SUDDEN - I feel like I'm gonna throw up.  My mouth started watering real bad like it does when you are about to throw up... I stood in front of the sink for about 3 minutes and nothing...just saliva.  I tried moving my body around to trigger it.  I hate the feeling of throwing up but my stomach was on fire.  It was burning and churning.  I think it may have been the combination or else it was the half of onion.  I put in the drink.  Or it could have just been a bug reacting.  But my stomach was not ok with this.  Nothing worked so I got up enough courage to try and make myself throw up (just to get rid of the un-comfortableness).  I have only done this one other time.  I hate seeing my own food that I ate.  Nothing worked...I did it about 7 times and it refused to come up.  I drink about 5 ounces of water and it calmed a little.  So I grabbed a banana and about 5 minutes after that I seemed to be doing ok.  So I took myself to my bed and laptop to relax.  While I was doing all this I looked at my juice and saw the tomato and onion separate.  I am sure I will not be making that drink ever again.

Reflecting from the Fast

I weighed myself the next morning...guess what?  Nothing!!!  I even gained some weight.  It might be my fault.  I ate a lot, kind of like two dinners worth the night I decided to finally eat food.
Bummer
I was reading on another blog or website, I can't remember.  But there was this saying...

This is me in California 2009.  I believe this might have been my heaviest weight...but I can't truly remember.  Anyway, that saying is how I have been living my last few days.  I have been taking a vengeance on things I cannot control.  Like the scale.  I can't tell the scale what to say...but I can control my hand not to put that candy in my mouth.  Also, instead of trying to make sure I am doing things, eat this or that, or taking these vitamins etc...then I am stopping myself from doing things.  I love it and it seems to be going better.  This morning I weighed and I was down .4lbs.  One other thing I have decided to change is eating after 9 o'clock.  There will be no more of that.  I know I don't lose any weight when I eat after 9.  Sometimes I even gain weight.  So this would be my second successful evening of not eating after 9.  I let myself have a snack about 8:30.
Also I have been trying to diligent about not eating too much.  I have to learn other outlets for my thoughts and feelings/pain.  So instead I will do other extracurricular activities.  Perhaps I will take my feelings out on myself and do some cleaning instead of pitying.  I can control how much I eat.  I am really working on eating something every two hours.  Today I had about 1/2 cup of peanut butter with two apples about 3:30.  I was still full from that at 6 so I just ate a plate of salad and that was it all night.  YAY me.
  Oh!  And my hard work paid off at school.  I got 2 A's, 2 B's and 1 C.  Too bad the C was in my conditioning/working-out class.  I am happy about the other scores though.

First Whole Day of Juice Fast

10:52am
So it has started....I forgot to weigh myself.  Bummer.  Anyway, I made a carrot and apple juice this morning.  I have a bit more coughing going on.  I have some radient C powder I think I will add to my next juice.  I should do something with oranges next too.  You may not want to know this...but my BM was a bit red this morning. I am not sure if it's from the carrots or strawberries.  I haven't been doing the strawberries.  But I know my body is getting rid of all the stuff that was stuck in my intestines just by the way it looks. Yucky.  Anyway, I wish I could write more but I have to go give someone a ride.  Then I am gonna stop by trader joes and get some chlorophyll.  Anyone else have a suggestions for a one day detox?  I want to get as much out of this day as possible.
4:13pm
 Sorry I didn't update earlier.  I have been so busy detoxing.  The sun was out today.  Right after I did the earlier post I saw it and realized I had a couple minutes before leaving.  So I pulled up a chair and sat outside in the sun.  I am told that is good for you.  I would do it longer but it's so cold that it's not fun.  Anyway, after dropping off the friend I headed to Trader Joe's where I found these helpful treasures.

I was so shocked by how inexpensive the Spirulina was.  Only $3.99 for the 100 capsules.  And the others where a pretty reasonable price as well.  Then I had to go to Life Source because I had to get Chlorophyll.  I found this extremely concentrated stuff for $13.99 and got some powder spirulina and a tea mesh so I can make my own herb teas.

On my way home I decided to stop at Jamba Juice and get my wheatgrass.  They do pure wheat grass and some orange juice to go afterwards.  That was the first time I ever did that, but it was yummy.  It was sweet and revitalizing.  Too bad they only do fresh orange and carrot juices.  Everything else is from the frozen concentrates but they don't add any sugars.  

I came home and made a drink called the lunch bucket.

2 medium sweet apples

1 cucumber, peeled

1 yellow summer squash

1 zucchini

1 stalk celery

It was good at first but this one I didn't drink within 15 minutes I think I lost interest.  Though I did drink the whole thing.  I think I was tired of the celery taste.  I added chlorophyll to this drink.  Then I did my workout.  I ran/walked on the treadmill for about 25 minutes then I got bored but it was nice to get sweaty.  I then decided to get some fresh air and went one vigorous bike ride for about 20 minutes.

Like how many pictures I am including?  Haa haa.  Anyway, I then came back home and stretched.  But I still wanted to do something else.  So I brought my laptop to the treadmill and wanted to watch a DVD but because I have to put the laptop straight up the cd wouldn't play right.  So I watched an episode of Once Upon a Time.  I didn't last the whole episode but I lasted about 30 minutes of just walking. Then I realized...I was starving.  I don't wanna eat food because I really want to do this for 24 hours.  I have until 9pm.  So I decided to for something really tasty.  I thought maybe I would do just straight orange juice but I wanted something else too.  So I went searching through my book and found an apple pie drink.  It had 4 apples, 1 carrot, and nutmeg and cinnamon.  But I need Vitamin C to fight this cold.  So I went with 3 oranges instead of the apples.  You sprinkle the cinnamon and nutmeg into the juicer and then juice your stuff.  It was delicious.

I loved the cinnamon and nutmeg flavor.  It was just what I needed to curb the cravings.  But truthfully I can't wait until it's time to eat some solids.  I am think I will make my california rolls again.  Just talking about it now makes my mouth water like crazy.  Like my encouraging pictures on my wall?

8:45pm

So here we are and it would be officially 24 hours since I started this fast.  I only last 20.  So I can put a date on my 12 hour juice fast.  I really want to make it to 24.  My body was craving food really bad.  In the book I was reading about juice fasting and detoxing it says that when your body wants food then you are ready to end the fast.  I tried to hold off as long as a could.  I made some of the carrot cashew soup from a box and had it with oyster crackers.  I also rolled my california rolls but was realizing I was eating too much and I am only binging.  So I put them in the fridge after eating the ones that were falling apart.  I hate to admit it but I randomly found two peanut butter cups and I ate them too.  But I think I did a pretty good job.

Gross comment below(TMI):

  I know this may sound gross and I don't know how to put it delicately...at around 6pm I went to the bathroom and there was blood from my butt.  Not a lot just a little and I couldn't even be sure that's what it was.  It was red but very watery.  I was kinda concerned at first but then I thought, maybe it's the vegetables.  There hasn't been any since.  Anybody know anything about this happening?

  Em from  http://pureglowsixteen.blogspot.com/ has started a 15 day yoga challenge and I decided to join her.  I count this as my first official day.

I had the vaporizer going at the same time so that I can breathe in that vicks air.  Trying to loosen some of my mucus.  I did the yoga exercise from my 2-week total body turnaround program.

I am so excited for this and I am gonna add it to my conquered list.  So now I am really tired but I need to bathe, so I will do that.  Maybe after I eat of my rolls.  I am very hungry too.

Juicing

Some people mention that as soon they want to do a fast or eat good then all of the sudden the junk food calls your name and your cravings get so big...Well, that is what has been happening to me.  It doesn't help that I live with people right now that buy and bake junk.  There is currently a big bowl of chocolate treats on the counter. I had to put a napkin over it just I wouldn't see it and be tempted, after helping myself to two.  But I made myself a carrot, celery, and beet juice and drank it right up.  UGH!  I hate celery.  The combination wasn't so bad, it was the after taste that bothered me.

This was yesterday's juice...orange, pineapple, grapes, and strawberries.  Very yummy.  

I am feeling a bit under the weather so I am hoping to juice myself back to health.  We'll see how it goes.   I am too scared to weigh myself this last month because I am sure it is not lower than it should be.

updated at 10:55pm

  I took a nap this afternoon for about 2 hours.  I was enjoying the coziness and didn't want to get out of bed but like usual, once I'm out I can usually stay out.  Right before going to take a nap I had a bowl of cashew carrot soup(which I did not make myself).  But it was very flavorful.  So when I woke up I made some more of the orange, pineapple, grapes, and strawberries juice.  It gave me energy to clean up my room a bit.  I pulled out my vicks vaporizer to put some moisture into my room.

  To help with the small cold I am fighting...I think it may be partly some detox going on as well.  A small dripping in the back of my throat tickles me.  So I did that then chilled while playing a game, went to a little boy's birthday party, which I did not partake of the cake...it helped that Sherah didn't either....made me really say NO.  But the a friend, I hadn't seen in a while was craving chinese and she invited me to join her....So I went.  I decided to really do a full juice fast tomorrow and today was to mentally prepare me for this.  I had sweet and sour tofu, vegetable spring rolls, eggfoyoung, and egg fried rice.  I stayed away from the REAL bad stuff but the deep fried was still in that meal and those kinda make me real tired sometimes.  But it was worth it to catch up with a friend and hear how she is doing.  I really enjoyed it.  I took my papaya enzymes after to help with digestion and also just now I had some Acidopholis.  I am drinking two large glasses of water right now.  Tomorrow will be a very successful day!  It was suggested by two people that I add an apple to the celery drinks and I think I will try that trick.  I just learned how to juice spinach and I am gonna do that tomorrow cause it's so good for me.  So off I go to bed.  I am giving someone a ride tomorrow morning so I have to get up in enough time to make a juice.  I am not sure which one to go with yet.  Maybe I'll fall asleep looking at it.

  Another thing, I have heard of people doing skin scrubs or something to that effect.  Does anyone know anything about that?  I want to detox as much as possible today.  And maybe starting January I can go a day longer until I work my way up to a 30 day fast.

A helping Hand

Look what I got in the mail today!!!!!!

And so I went and bought this!!!!  So now I can start my juice detox.  I got these in the mail the other day!!!

Last night I made California rolls.  

 Here they are.

Now onward with the juice fasting and downward with the weight.

Simply Put

I never do one of those "I'm thankful for" Blogs but maybe I should.
 First I want to update on the last 24 hours.  Last night for dinner I made quinoa and steamed brussels sprouts for dinner.  YUM!  And man that didn't satisfy my hunger so I also toasted a whole wheat bagel with spinach and artichoke cream cheese.  And I had the munchies later that evening so I ate two of my home-made reeses pieces and also a yoplait yogurt.
  This morning I weighed in at 256.  YAY!  I like being down 2.8lbs.  And so this morning I woke up and immediately had to go to the gym and workout because of my time crunch.  So I did that.  This day marks 5 days I have worked out in a row.  It's been a while since that has happened before.  I went on the treadmill(walking fast) for 15 minutes and the on the reclining bike for 25 minutes.  I didn't stretch.  Mostly because I had to hurry home to get ready for my MASSAGE!

That is so true.  I have never had a professional massage before and this was great.  I think I was lucky to be able to have a good masseuse.  I am not sure how to spell that word but I know it's a word.  Anyway, for over a week I have been having horrible pain in my left shoulder.  It has been stiff and not letting go.  I tried everything except for the massage thing.  So they were having a special and I decided to go for it.  I am so addicted and now I have to make up my mind if this is something I want to add to my budget.  With my working out and stuff I am sure my body would enjoy it.  The lady who worked on me suggested I get a massage once a month.  Sounds good to me if I decide if I can afford it.
  So I got home and ate these yummy treats.

Pineapples. apple, banana, and an orange.  Which I took with my iron.  Vitamin C helps to absorb iron.  And calcium hinders absorption.  *Something I learned from my nutrition class.*
So here I sit in the living room.  I was on the couch a minute ago but I moved over to the rocking chair.  I'm infront of the fire and just hung the stockings.  I love Christmas.

Things I'm Thankful For:
Living with a family
A massage today
the fire place
painting christmas stockings for outside
homemade reeses cups
healthy food
God loves me
Christmas
living with a family
a working car
being single ;)
warm jackets


OK I think that's plenty for now.  I am sure there is more I am thankful for but we'll stick with that for now.

The Start of a New Month

For the rest of 2011 I am on a big mission.  I will prove that it is possible to lose weight during the holidays.  I am really needing a success right now.  I haven't been losing weight in the last 5 months.  That's a long time!  So I am gonna go on this journey, for me.  I am gonna start with a cleanse.  I am only going to be eating clean food for the next 3 days.  I know I will be successful in these days because I don't have to work.  I do have lots of school work though.
  I just registered for my winter term.  15 credits!!  Crazy.  I am gonna talk to the director today about my game plan and see if I would manage to do this.
   This morning I weighed in at 258.8lbs.  I haven't weight that much in 6 months.  CRAZY!!  So I totally need this month to lose like 20 lbs.  Does that sound crazy?  If I give my body a jump start it's almost like starting a weight loss journey again and your body usually loses a lot of weight the first week.  I bet I could do it.  I am atleast going to try.
  My workout class ends on Tuesday and I have to work out every day, until then if I want to be able to pass.  I am so not taking this kind of class again.  Ugh.  I wanna be able to go to the gym without the pressure but because I just want to.  So now I am gonna go make myself a spinach and strawberry drink and be really healthy.  I ordered a juicer and then cancelled the order...not sure what to do.  I really need one and have an old one.  But I have no idea how to use it.  Guess I should get on the ball about that.
  Well here's so many successes.  I am gonna try to blog every day but you know how that goes.  I figure with not having school the rest of this month I should go back to really focusing on losing weight.

3:41pm
 This is my day so far.

I made a green drink with spinach, mixed fruit and water.  I only made a little over a tall glass full and drank it all.  Then I went and worked out for 40 minutes.  I was so not motivated today and I only walked fast on the treadmill for 40 minutes.  The bikes and elliptical, I like to use, were occupied the whole time.















Then I came home and an orange, apple, and I cut up a zucchini.  I steamed most of it the some garlic salt and crunched on a few of the slices raw.

I also did eat some bites of chex mix..yum!

IHerb!

Yay!  I had enough money to order some more stuff from Iherb.  And this is what I got.

I love being able to get this great stuff for about $40.   And that's free shipping.  Remember to use this code if you want to receive $5 off your order. Code: COB716

I immediately pulled out a lollipop and proceeded to eat it.  Yummy!  And then I made dinner with my kelp noodles.  They are delicious.  They are so cheap and I am gonna be ordering those again.

My dinner was veggie chicken strips with red bell peppers, spinach, and onions.  Plus the kelp noodles.  Then I toasted some bagels and had my new black currant jam on it.  Yummy.

I've noticed that blogger now sends you to an album when you click on the pictures.  But if you right click on the picture directly on the blog and select "open link in new tab" you can see the picture bigger. Once you get to that page just click on the picture and it should show itself bigger.
I recently made a couple of fall treats and I will blog about that soon.

Good Eats

I have made some very good and healthy choices with my food lately.  Check out this yummy ice cream I found? It's even better than the real pumpkin pie.

Chocolate Shake with Spinach

Yep...I had my good ole Chocolate shake today.  I haven't had that in so long.  Since before the summer, I think.  Almond chocolate milk, a banana, and 1 tbsp of melted coconut oil.  Instead of doing my usual Spirulina powder I just threw in some spinach leaves.  It was so yummy and you can't even taste the spinach.

Beer

I follow a blog of a girl that likes beer.  She can't resist a glass of beer where ever she is...she not an alcoholic.  She just likes beer.  Well, I like beer too.  I am partial to dark beer.  It's way more flavorful and deep tasting.  I like Blue Moon, actually it's the first beer I have tried that I like.  Well, I also got some advice to try Deshutes beer.  I really like that too. Well, Blue Moon has about four different types of beer so far and currently they have these two available for the holidays.

I tried the beer on the right (Winter Abbey Ale) the other day.  I like it.  It has a bit of sugar and coffee flavoring and it's dark enough for me.  But the one on the left (Spiced Amber Ale) is SO GOOD!!!  I love the cinnamon taste in there.  It's my new favorite.  Too bad it's only limited edition.  I am enjoying right now as a matter of fact.

  I wanted to mention another thing I recently discovered.  It does not work for me to be forced to workout...like in my conditioning class.  The center is only open from 6:30 am - 7 Monday -Thursday and only open til 4 on Friday and Saturday is 9-12.  Those times are limiting for me.  So of course I am not motivated enough to make it there.  And I feel like if I work outside of that then it's just a waste...even though I know it isn't.  I didn't get rid of my 24 hr Fitness membership.  Kinda glad I didn't.  I wanna start that up again.  And I wanna go bike riding too.  I have been wanting to the last couple of days.  And the thing that has been holding me back is that I need to go to the school to do it.  And if I'm not gonna take the time to go to the school, then why do it at home?  Stupid, I know.  Well, it's 2 am and I should be in bed. :(  Good night.

Worked out!

That's right.  I haven't worked out in 2 weeks atleast but I seriously lost count.  I need to workout because of my class.  But I don't think I will do that again.  I don't workout out outside of going to the school gym.  Even I couldn't go there that day.  My head says, It's a waste if I can't do it at the school because it won't count.  Well, I won't be doing that again.  Unless it's a class I have a set time for and HAVE to go that day.  If I need an extra credit next term, I will just try that out.
  I got a new magazine the last time I went to the store.

It has such good information and it's very supportive.  It's not easy being a vegetarian and this magazine will help.  So I subscribed!!
And I snapped this picture of myself.  I was feeling very "fall-like" in my flannel pajamas.

Tonight after working out I came home to try out a new recipe.

It was really good. I am totally gonna make this meal again.

Lots to Update

I have been doing many good new things lately.  Mostly the eats and vitamins.  I have not been working out in 2 weeks and my conditioning class will pay for that.  First I want to share a few healthy things I have chosen lately.

I got these chips from Life Source.  They are so good.  They have more of a texture of cheese curls....kinda.  I don't really know how to describe them.  Anyway, they are so good for munching.  I have went to this bag 3 times in the last 5 days and I still haven't eaten all of them.  It's just enough to take away my munchies cravings and poof...gone.  The bag is almost $4 but it's worth.
And about this Velocity thing.  I was up until 5am yesterday and only got 2 hours of sleep.  I took these pills and WONDERS!!!  I am awake at 12:28am tonight and only feel a slight jitters.  You can find the link to these wonder pills here --> CLICK HERE

  So, yes, I do need to hit the sack...but not until I tell you what I had for lunch today.

A yummy sandwich on crisp sourdough bread.  I first tried this kind of bread when I was in Norway.  I loved it.  And I finally found one that isn't too hard to eat.  It's nice and crisp and breaks easily when I take a bit.

slather some of this delicious butter on.

Throw on some spring mix lettuce and add the turkey...

and throw some cucumber slices on that.  Slice up an avocado and bite into that with my sandwich and wahllah...we have lunch.
  Ok , I must really get to bed.  I am gonna try to remember to weigh myself tomorrow morning.  I haven't in almost a week and I need to see what's going on because I bought cheap halloween candy after the fact, don't ask me why.  And I can't seem to stop munching on it.