Set Points and Makeovers

Sorry about the radio silence. The last couple of weeks have been mildly frustrating. I've been bouncing back and forth between 205 and 205 for two weeks now. The funny thing is when I lost weight for the first time 3 years ago I spent 6 weeks stuck at 205. I know that my body has set points when I lose weight, places I plateau for awhile. But I didn't think it would be the exact same point, I wonder if it will hold true for the next one? It will be interesting to see if I get stuck at 195 like I did last time, won't it?

Anywho, this last week we celebrated my husband's and my son's birthdays. We went out to lunch at a Brazilian Steak House (you know, the place where they bring around the meat on the swords. Combine that with the amazing salad bar and it makes a great low-carb place to eat out.) Afterward we were waling around the outdoor mall in downtown Salt Lake when I saw this little store called Betty Paige. Their window display had these adorable 1950's style dressed and skirts. My husband encouraged me to try some on so I went in and basically got one of everything that was in my size. The styles were all Marilyn Monroe-esque. Cinched at the waist and curvy through the bust and hips. In the dressing room trying on that first dress I had a revelation.

I've hated shopping my whole life. Clothes never seem to fit me like they do other people. Pants are tight in the hips and gap hugely at the waist. Dresses strain across my bust and hips and bag around my stomach. I'll get to the point where I have one outfit left in my closet before I go out and go shopping. Part of me has always attributed this to my being over-weight, that's natural right?

But then I stood in the dressing room and pulled on a dress that was specifically designed for a woman with an hourglass figure. And it fit like the proverbial glove. Curvy through the hips and bust and narrow at the waist. I stared at myself in the mirror and felt like I was bathed in the light of a blinding epiphany. Yes I was still overweight, but here was a dress that was designed to look good on a woman with my body shape. And it did!

Then I tried on 6 more outfits, each one that fit great and looked great on me! And I started to see how other women could love shopping. So then I spent way too much on that very first dress (thanks honey) and then died my mousy brown hair black to match. If my weight loss has stalled this week, at least I'm having fun!

Weigh-In Apr 2

Sorry about the hiatus guys. I had one gnarly case of strep throat that lasted for 10 days. (That's right, I said gnarly.) While I was sick I didn't follow my low-carb rules. Heck while I was sick I didn't even follow my personal hygiene rules. I mostly laid on the couch and moaned...a lot. And when I was hungry I ate whatever sounded good to me. So you can understand that I was a little apprehensive when I stepped back onto the scale this week. Then let out a huge sigh of relief when it said 207. Only 2 lbs up, I will totally take it. Thank you weight loss fairies for not blowing me up 8 lbs in addition to a horrible week of mucous and moaning.

So onward to better and less germy things! Please-oh-please. Kicked off my eating again yesterday and also started the weight lifting again. Instead of moving on to the next month I went back to week one and added heavier weights.

I've been reading a lot lately about goals and I usually tend to have vague, pie-in-the-sky goals. I want to be better about setting concrete goals that I can see and my husband can graph (he's mad about graphs, engineer you know). So I'm setting a new short term goal. I'm leaving for Arizona in exactly a month. In Arizona May is swimsuit season, unlike Utah which will still be yo-yoing back and forth between gorgeous days and blizzards. So I'm making a goal to be 195 when I leave for Az. That's 12 lbs or 3 lbs a week, which I know is on the high side. But here goes nothing.

All right, lurkers, I know you're out there. What's your short term goal? It doesn't have to be weight related, just throw it out there...in print for the world to see. Then go drink some water.

Ugh

Sorry guys, I am so sick right now. I'll be back when I can drag myself out of bed again.

Whoosh

Today I am watching 6 kids under the age of 8, answering phones for 9 hours for the company I work for, and making a homemade cupcake cake for the cub scout cake auction tomorrow. Yeah, I'm a little busy. But I wanted to drop in a show you guys a menu for a typical low carb day for me. You might be a little overwhelmed when going low carb for the first time wondering what you will possibly eat. The most common questions I get asked if, "Yeah, but what do you eat?!" (By the way an apology to my vegetarian friends for asking this same questions in that same puzzled voice).

So here's what I ate yesterday (keep in mind I'm in an early phase of my low carb eating so there's still a few foods I'm not allowed to eat):

Breakfast:
3 egg omelet with onion, peppers, garlic, mushroom, and cheddar cheese

Snack:
Low carb yogurt and sliced strawberries with whipped cream

Lunch:
Grilled Tilapia with lemon and butter, roasted asparagus and mashed caulifower

Snack:
Pistachios and a string cheese

Dinner:
Chicken Fajita salad (grilled chicken, onions, and peppers over a green salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, and ranch dressing)

Dessert:
Sugar-free Jello with whipped cream, or an Atkins bar (the caramel nut chew one tastes just like a snickers)

I know I owe you guys a picture (do you know how hard it is to take a picture of yourself?) so I'll have the hubby take one tomorrow and get it up on Monday.

And for you ladies who are pumping iron with me:

Day 17

Forward Step Lunges
Deadlifts
Towel Squats
Uni Heel Raises
Torso Twists

Day 18

Combo Bicep Curls
Bent Over Kickbacks
Seated Flyes
Kneeling One Arm Rows
Single Arm Front Lifts
Abs

Day 19

Forward Lunges
Side Leg Lifts
Plie Squats
Uni Heel Raises
Reverse Leg Lifts

Day 20

Crunches
Forward Curls*
Standing Kickbacks*
Side Raises*
Lateral Drops*
Push Ups
Standing Bent Over Rows

Weigh-In Mar 19

Another Monday comes around again. Seems like the weeks are going by really fast and at the same time (with 4 weeks left until we move) extremely slowly! But onward we go. This morning I was 205. Yay! 20 lbs lost to date.

Funny thing with me, when I'm doing well I tend to get discouraged and sabotage my weight loss. Isn't that weird? I think I get upset about how much further I have to go instead of being excited about what I've done. Does anyone else get this way? I'm trying to be positive though (and not celebrate my weight loss with jelly beans).

I need to post a progress pic but my photographer is at a sleepover with grandma today. I'll try to get it up tomorrow or by Wednesday at the latest. And for those of you who are getting more buff by the day, here's the next 2 days of the routine:

Day 15

Reverse Lunges
Standing Leg Curls
Plie Squats
Bi Heel Raises

Day 16

Seated Bicep Curls
1 Arm Extensions
Seated Forward Presses
Standing Bent Over Rows
Upright Rows

Ham Cups

I've discovered one of the best, simplest, yummiest low-carb recipes ever! And the best part is it only has 2 ingredients. Seriously people when I say simple I mean 15 minutes from fridge to plate. To be truthful I wasn't the one who actually found it, my 8 year old did. (That's right, so simple an 8 year old can make it!) She was given an assignment to cook and serve a meal for the family. So she went through her Kids Can Cook recipe book looking for something low-carb her mommy and daddy could eat. She chose Ham Cups so we made them and they were so yummy we've made them 4 or 5 times since.

These are great if you're:
1. In a hurry
2. Have kids (they're super fun to eat finger food)
3. On a diet
4. On a budget
5. Not in the mood to cook (ding ding ding)

Here's how it goes. Get out a muffin pan and spray it. Take a piece of deli ham and push it into each cup so it makes a cute little ham cup. Then take an egg and crack it into the ham cup. I find the easiest way to do this (especially for kids) is to crack it into a measuring cup and pour it into the ham cup. Now pop it into a 375 degree oven for 10-15 minutes (depending on if you like your yolks runny or solid, I like them somewhere in between). Take them out and let them cool for a minute and then pop them onto a plate. Voila! All done. No really, that's it. Sometimes if I want to get fancy I put a little slice of cheese under the egg before I bake it.

Something magical happens to that egg while it is baking. I love the flavor of eggs but I HATE the texture. It seems to be that eggs are alternately slimy or rubbery. But these eggs are melt-in-your mouth smooth and delicious. The best part? Depending on what ham you use these have 0 carbs. Woo-Hoo!

And for you ladies who are pumping iron with me, here are the next 2 days of the routine.

Day 12

Forward curls
Bent Over Kickbacks
Bench Presses
Standing Bent Over Rows
Military Presses
Traditional Crunches

Day 13

Reverse Leg Lifts
Torso Twists
Traditional Crunches
Towel Squats *
Side Leg Lifts *
Forward Lunges *
Deadlifts
Plie Squats

Days 10 & 11

How's it going? Anyone trying the routine? Is someone out there sore today, I mean besides me?

Day 10
Biceps - Combo curls
Triceps - Standing Kickbacks
Chest - Chest flys
Back - Kneeling 1 Arm Rows
Shoulders - single arm forward lifts
Abs - Pelvic Tilts

Day 11
Legs- Walking Lunges
Back legs - Deadlifts
Legs/Butt - Towel Squats
Calves - Heel raises
Abs - Torso Twists