Dinner with friends...

We had Ben and Cathy over for dinner tonight and they brought dinner. I saved plenty of calories for dinner (700-1000) since I didn't know what we were having. They brought all the fixin's for really good fajitas, including grilled chicken. Mmmm! I limited myself to one fajita, filled with chicken, peppers, refried beans, rice, and cheese. It was delicious! But it wasn't as many calories as I thought it would be, so here I am at midnight, laying in bed hungry. I'm low on calories for today (980-ish) but I got all my water in for the first time this week! WOOHOOO! We'll see if I can get both right tomorrow. I don't feel too badly about the low calories, though, given the Easter candy I know I will consume this weekend. I will try to be moderate, though. I will try.

Jillian Says...

According to Jillian Michaels, here's what will help me lose weight:

Based on your answers: I've calculated where you are today, and where you want to be. Next, I'm going to help you get there. We can do this together. Ready? Weight: 121 pounds Activity Level: Low	Your Reasonable Weight: 97-123 lbs Your Target Weight: 105 pounds Activity Level: Active Flexibility: Flexible

Your customized weight loss plan:

Based on your answers, here's my triple-threat plan for you. Losing weight is simple — 33% exercise, 33% diet, and 33% behavioral.

You're an Apple — but you can pare down!

Like all apples, you tend to store fat in your mid-section and upper body, so you're probably carrying extra weight around your belly and chest. Anyone can be an apple, but this shape is more common among men, and studies actually show that people who store fat in the upper body are more prone to cardiac disease. This should provide you with even more incentive to lose weight!

That's where I come in! I have exercises that will target your specific fat storage areas. My personalized program will help you alter your apple shape. But you got to get a grip — you can only win against genetics up to a certain point. Once you understand this, you can let go of unreachable goals and replace them with real ones.

I'll create your personalized exercise program based on the days you prefer to work out, the goals you set for yourself, and the exercises you enjoy. After all, if you enjoy your workout, it's easier to stick to.

I'll encourage you to:

Have fun aerobic dancing! Depending on intensity, you could burn 500 calories an hour.

Power walk. You can do it anywhere, and at 4 mph, you’ll be burning at least 250 calories an hour.

Run indoors or out. All you need are good running shoes. And at 5 mph, you’ll burn over 400 calories an hour.

You're a balanced oxidizer.

Because you crave fruit and bread as well as salty foods, cheeses, and meats, you may be a balanced oxidizer. This is the fancy term for your metabolic rate. It simply means that you need equal proportions of protein, carbs, and fat to process the nutrients in your food optimally, and to produce and use the resulting energy. Lucky you — your diet is the easiest to follow! You feel your best on a diet that incorporates a wide range of foods, and your ideal macronutrient ratio is 40% carbs, 30% protein, and 30% fat. But the bottom line is, you have to burn more calories than you take in. That's it. And to really do this successfully, you have to eat the ideal diet for your body and metabolism. Believe me — I've struggled with this myself. And I've done a lot of research and work to figure out my ideal diet. And now I want to share my findings with you. I have recipes and snacks that will help you eat better for your body type. And I have secrets and tricks to make it easier. (I didn't say "easy.")

My 7 steps to behavioral modification

Lots of so-called "experts" talk about willpower. Well, I say screw willpower — there's no such thing! Sure, we all have fleeting moments of bravado. But that virtue comes and goes. I'm going to teach you some basic techniques to change your habits and program yourself against failure!

You are going to have to do the work, though. I don't want to hear that you don't have the time. If that's your excuse, then get back to me when you're ready. I'll be here.

Ready? Okay, good. Let's make some changes together:

1. Avoid dangerous situations. STOP driving by the doughnut shop on your way to work. When you go out to dinner, ask the waiter not to bring bread to your table.

2. Get a hobby. Start taking your dog on longer walks. Fix up your attic. By focusing on positive activities, you'll find yourself becoming more relaxed, happier, and thinner!

3. Curb mindless eating. Don't eat while standing up, and don't skip meals. Brush your teeth after every meal and snack. Food never seems as appealing when you have that toothpaste taste in your mouth.

Doing GREAT!

On my calories today, that is! I need a few more calories today to bump up over 1200, but I'm within range on everything! Even a little over on fiber for the day (41 grams!) which is fine since I was under a bit yesterday. So I'm doing good!!

I should drink some more water. I've had liquids today, but not actual water. Yes, that means I drank more aspartame-laden diet Dr. Pepper. But once it's gone, it's gone, so I won't kick myself too much about it right now! =D

Still going....

I'm sitting here eating a tomato. That's good, right? Especially since I REALLY want to be eating the candy I know is in the snack drawer? Yes, I am exercising moderation. I figure I always quit tracking calories after the second day, so I'm sticking with it today. Even though I really just wanted today to be a junk food day. *sigh* I had two oatmeal cookies for breakfast. Susan Beth brought them. They were good. For lunch I finished off the carrots and ate a tomato. I'll probably eat more, but for right now I'm good. And I'm at 400 calories so far today. I should start thinking NOW about what I want for dinner, and how to squeeze as many vegetables into it as possible. Hmmmm....

I stayed under 1500 calories yesterday, but still only got about half my water in. I, again, was aiming for about 1300 calories, but then I had some candy with Leif while we watched a show. Mmmm... candy. It's a downfall of mine unless I build it in to my calorie count.

Okay... off to clean a bit and think about what's for dinner!

Day two and counting....

We ended up having Costco pizza last night. Leif brought it home and I was thankful not to have to make dinner with the headache I had. He also brought home Frappuccino since I needed the carton to make a template for my class tonight. And we all know what that mean.... I drank one. So I didn't stay under 1300 calories like I'd planned, but I did stay under 1500 calories, and that is still within my range (1200-1550) set by Spark People. So I'm okay with that. I didn't get all my water in, but I did drink a liter, and that's better than nothing, which is how much water I was drinking before. I did get 5 servings of fruits and vegetables in yesterday, though!

Today is day two. I hope to stay under 1500 calories again and drink ALL my water today. So far I've had a frappuccino for breakfast (hey - I need the empty bottles for class tonight!) and that's it. But whatever this illness I have is seems to have an upset stomach phase to it, too, and that hit this morning. Greaaaat. Now I'm hungry again but need to figure out what to eat that won't make things worse. Hmmm... We'll see.

Sick

The calorie counting is going so far so good today. It even warmed up enough that I could have taken Ellie on a walk. Unfortunately, my temp is back up to 101 and the headache has settled in. So we didn't go on a walk. Ergh. I would just like to get better.

Now... what for dinner? So far it's 4:30 in the afternoon and I'm at 400 calories, leaving me with 800 for dinner. So... what for dinner?

Day 1. Again.

I think it's time that I admit that I can't lose weight without counting calories. And I can't count calories in my head. And so I am back to Spark People. Again.

I hate that I start and stop, start and stop... I'd just like to stick with it and get rid of the weight. I've been fighting with the same 5 lbs since January. Up and down, up and down. Just like a yo-yo. It's frustrating.

Today the sun is shining and I'd love to go for a walk. But it's supposed to be in the 30's all day and I've been sick. I've had a fever since Saturday. It was 103 Sunday. Yesterday it wavered between 100 and 102. Today it is 100 again so far. So I don't think it's a good idea to go for a walk in the cold. Probably not a good idea to go for a walk at all. I should take it easy. But I will record my calories starting today. Because today is Day 1. Again.