My childbearing years have finally come to an end
and it is now time to really focus on feeling and looking great again! It's
been a long journey which includes multiple pregnancies, an intense sugar
addiction, hypothyroidism, and chronic pain issues. Just five short months ago
I weighed myself before heading to the hospital the morning of my scheduled
c-section. The scale landed on 198lbs. Granted I was 9 months pregnant but I
knew at that moment that I had a lot of work ahead of me to get back down to a
healthy weight. I am 32 years old and am 5 feet 5 inches tall. I was always a
slender kid growing up and didn't really start putting on any real weight until
I had an allergic reaction to the Depo-Provera shot in my early twenties. I was
on the birth control for a little less than a year but managed to gain 15lbs
every 3 months! I didn't even realize the extent of the damage until the nurse
taking my weight informed me of the extensive weight gain. After that ordeal my
metabolism has never been the same. I worked hard during the rest of my
twenties to stay fit but realized this would be a life long struggle.
I currently have a 2 year old daughter and a 5 month
old son so I've spent a good portion of the last 3 years pregnant. During both
pregnancies I had quite intense sugar cravings which unfortunately I gave into
a little too often. Let's just say that ice cream was a staple in my diet. Not
so great for managing my weight gain! I managed to gain 40lbs with my 1st
pregnancy, only lost 20lbs of it before getting pregnant again, and then gained
another 40lbs with my son. However, over the last couple of months my best
friend Amy and I have decided to ban together and support each other during
this life style change. Having an accountability partner is huge for me. If I
don't have one I tend to rationalize my unhealthy choices in my head. It's always nice
to have someone who cares to talk you off
the edge!
So far by educating myself on nutrition, diligently keeping
a food journal, and adding brisk walks into my daily routine I have been able
to shed 40lbs over the last 5 months. My biggest obstacle thus far has been
combating my sugar addiction and getting my portion sizes under control. I
still have moments of weakness but overall I have greatly improved exercising
my willpower when it comes to sweets. In my twenties my main concern was
looking good but now as I get older the more my focus has turned to overall
health. Of course looking good is always a bonus! But unfortunately I have a
lot of illness and disease in my gene pool. Therefore I know I cannot get
complacent and assume that I am immune to disease.
Along with Amy I will be keeping a food and exercise
journal on the My Fitness Pal app and Fitbit. And experimenting with different techniques
that incorporate healthy living into our busy lives. It's easy with children to
get so busy that you forget to take care of yourself but I also know how
important it is for us to be healthy. Not only for us but for these kiddos too!
It's time to make a permanent lifestyle change and not continue on the road of
yo-yo dieting.
Week
1
Goal
#1:
This week I will be focusing on getting a daily walk in. I prefer to go in the
mornings since it gives me energy for the rest of the day but if my schedule
doesn't permit I will do my best to do it in the evenings.
Goal
#2:
Making sure that I drink enough water. Since I am currently breastfeeding I need
more than normal so my goal is 96oz per day as recommended by my physician.
Wednesday, July 6th
Starting Weight: 162lbs
Breakfast: Raisen Bran Cereal (1 cup)
Milk
(0.8cup 1%)
Chia Seeds (1 tbsp)
12oz Coffee
(with 2 tbsp of cream and 2 tsp of sugar)
Lunch: Ham sandwich on multigrain bread w/
lite miracle whip, spinach, cheese, and tomato
Dinner: Chicken Tikka Marsala
Wheat couscous
Garlic nan
Snacks: Hummus (2 oz)
4 whole mini sweet peppers
Almonds (1 oz )
Banana nut granola
Water: 10 Cups
Exercise: Walked at a brisk pace for 2
miles
Steps: 6,469
Total Calories Consumed: 2,056
Total Calories Burned: 384
Thursday, July 7th
Breakfast: 12 oz Coffee (3tbsp of cream & 2 tsp of sugar)
Lunch: Shredded BBQ chicken sandwich on
whole wheat bun
Salad with lite
italian dressing (2 tbsp)
Steamed carrots
(1 cup)
Dinner: Cheese Burger (no fries)
Broccoli (1
cup)
Snacks:
Strawberries (1
cup)
Water: 11 Cups
Exercise: 3 mile brisk walk
Steps: 11,045
Total Calories Consumed: 2,064
Total Calories Burned:635
Friday, July 8th
Breakfast: 12oz coffee (2tbsp cream &
2 tsp sugar)
Homemade
breakfast skillet (potatoes, sausage, egg, and cheese)
Lunch: Shredded BBQ chicken sandwich on whole wheat bun
Salad with lite
italian dressing (2 tbsp)
Dinner: Homemade beef tacos with lean meat
Black beans
Rice
Salsa
Snacks: Multi grain toast with 1tbsp of
peanut butter
Water: 9 Cups
Exercise: 2 mile brisk walk
Steps: 5,904
Total Calories Consumed: 1,973
Total Calories Burned: 384
Saturday, July 9th
Breakfast: 12oz Coffee (3tbsp of cream
& 2 tsp of sugar)
Pink Grapefruit (with 1tsp of sugar sprinkled on top)
Multi
grain toast with 1tbsp of peanut butter
Lunch: 2 Soft tacos
Dinner: 1.5 cups of homemade Goulash
Snacks: Whole grain flat bread &
hummus
Water: 12 cups
Exercise: 4 mile brisk walk
Steps: 15,173
Total Calories Consumed: 1,545
Total Calories Burned: 578
Sunday, July 10th
Breakfast: 12oz Coffee (3tbsp of cream & 2 tsp sugar)
Pink
Grapefruit (with 1tsp of sugar sprinkled on top)
Multi grain
toast with 1tbsp of peanut butter
Lunch: Ham sandwich on multigrain bread w/ lite miracle whip,
spinach, cheese, and tomato
Dinner: Veggie Quesadilla w/ salsa
Snacks: Quinoa chips
Water: 10 cups
Exercise: None
Steps: 2,357
Total Calories Consumed: 1,852
Total Calories Burned: 0
Monday, July 11th
Breakfast: 12oz Coffee (3tbsp of
cream & 2tsp sugar)
1 cup Great Grains Crunchy
Pecan cereal
0.8 cup
1% milk
Lunch: 1.5 cups homemade Goulash
Dinner: Homemade breakfast skillet
(potatoes, sausage, egg, and cheese)
Snacks: 1 med orange
Quinoa chips
(2oz)
Multi grain
toast
1tbsp peanut
butter
Water: 11 Cups
Exercise: 3 mile brisk walk
Steps: 9,642
Total Calories Consumed: 1,978
Total Calories Burned: 523
Tuesday, July 11th
Breakfast: 12oz Coffee (3tbsp of cream & 2 tsp sugar)
Pink
Grapefruit (with 1tsp of sugar sprinkled on top)
Multi grain
toast with 1tbsp of peanut butter
Lunch: 1 cup Great Grains Crunchy Pecan cereal
0.8 cup 1% milk
Dinner: Homemade cheeseburger with sautéed sweet peppers and
mushrooms on a whole wheat bun and brocolli, asparagus, carrots, kale,
greenbeans
Snack: Edamame (1cup)
Orange
Hummus with
sweet peppers
Quinoa chips
Water: 12 Cups
Exercise: 3 mile brisk walk
Steps: 9,351
Total Calories Consumed:2,041
Total Calories Burned:241
Wednesday Weigh-In and Week Overview
Ending Weight: 159.8
Total Weight Loss for the week: 2.2lbs
There is definitely room for improvement especially in the food department but overall I am happy with this weeks weight loss!
Awesome! Go Chrissy!
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