The Secret To Losing Weight

It's the end of the month report time!!

Before I tell you about our progress for January, I'm going to share one of our secrets for losing 12.6 pounds as a family.  I was just talking to my good friend Barbie about this a few days ago and she's posting about it today too.  Check her out at The Bold Blend.

I went to Target and bought some new plates at the beginning of the year.  Then I realized that we really only needed the salad plate on the left.  It is the prefect size for a meal.  I've experimented with several meals from pasta to chicken and quinoa and the correct serving sizes fit on the salad plate.  And they are only $1.99 at Target! 

Correct serving sizes are the secret to losing weight!

January seemed to go by pretty quickly.  We had a lot going on and it's not slowing down until mid March.  I can't wait for Spring Break so I can relax for a week...oh wait, we're taking a trip. Nevermind.

My family has adapted well to our new eating plan.  The Obama Plan as it's been dubbed is a frequent topic of conversation.  My kids want to know if certain things are healthy and what isn't.  I feel really good that we're teaching them good habits....finally.

I'm so impressed with my little boy.  He's almost 7 but has been wearing husky pants a size or two larger than what he's supposed to be wearing.  He loves Pizza and Ice Cream.  We haven't cut these things out completely....but we've cut them back.  I'm happy to say that he has lost 2.8 pounds this month!  His pants fit so much better and he has been more active at school.

My little girl is already a peanut.  She is tall and thin.  She lost 1.8 pounds this month and now her slim fit pants are falling down. She was already a pretty healthy eater, she loves yogurt and fruit and most veggies.  If anything, we've improved her eating habits.

My dear husband pushed back so hard at first.  I know that he's a smart man and he knew that this plan was better for him.  But I do understand that change is hard and no likes being hungry.  I'm happy to report that he has lost 5 pounds and is now embracing the plan!  He's enjoying the food, although he did mention he'd like me to take a small break from the lime and cilantro.  HA!

I did not lose as much as I'd hoped for.  On January 1st I weight in at 211.6, I then ballooned up to 213 when my in laws were in town but I'm counting January 1st weight as my true weigh in.  As of today, I've lost 3 pounds!  I am proud of the fact that I lost those 3 pounds in a very healthy way and that I'm changing our eating habits for good.

I'm so proud of my family and their commitment to this new plan.  I'm confident that 2013 is going to be our best year yet!

Vow of Sobriety

Let's go over last week's goals and see how I did.

Goals for Week Four:

• Drink More Water! FAIL
• Avoid Sugar YES!
• Exercise 3 times (figure out the BEST time of day) Only once
• Limit wine to twice a week  YES
• Write in my food journal This needs some work

Bummer.  My daughter fell ill on Tuesday afternoon and was sick until Saturday.  TOM was with us all week too so things didn't go according to plan.  However, I lost the .8 that showed up last week and I refrained from eating tons of sugar while I was incapacitated.

Starting weight:     211.6
Last week:              209.8 (+  .8 pounds)
This week:               209    (-  .8 pounds)
LOSS:                    -2.6 pounds

I think I've discovered that working out first thing in the morning is best for me.  If I try to wait until my family leaves for work and school...I get wrapped up in my computer doing other things and I don't get it done.

I also desperately need to write in my food journal every single day!

My dear friend Heather is doing hCG again this month so to support her,  I've taken a vow of sobriety for the month of February.

Goals for Week Five:

• Drink More Water!
• No Wine/Beer/Vodka
• Exercise 4 Times (even if it's just dancing for 10 minutes)
• Write in my food journal

You can see my weekly menu plan here.

Linking up with The Java Mama for The Biggest Loser.  I've met some great gals that are working hard to drop some pounds and get healthy!

Re-Training my Brain

I feel really good about last week!  I ate well....and I exercised a few times.  I even took pictures of my food a few days in an attempt to keep myself accountable.  I made it through the weekend without blowing my diet!

I went to a cooking class at Whole Foods with my friend Heather and we learned a couple more meatless recipes.  You can see the pictures and recipes here.  Quinoa is my new best friend and even my kids are liking it.  WINNING!  Sorry...was that annoying?

I  had an AH-HA moment this week involving watermelon!  It feels like I'm learning how to eat all over again and re-training my brain to think like a healthy person.

I was super excited for my weigh in this morning and then TOM decided to rear his ugly head a few days early. It has to be the reason for the slight gain.  Hoping for better news next week.

Starting weight:     211.6
Last week:              209 (-2.6 pounds)
This week:              209.8 (+  .8 pounds)
LOSS:                    -1.8 pounds


Goals for Week Four:

• Drink More Water!
• Avoid Sugar
• Exercise 3 times (figure out the BEST time of day)
• Limit wine to twice a week
• Write in my food journal

Linking up with the lovely Java Mama for The Biggest Loser Challenge!

I Can Afford Watermelon

I stood in the produce section looking at the beautiful little watermelons with the $5.99 price tag.  My kids love watermelon and they think it's only for summer.  I hesitated because of the price but decided I wanted to blow their little minds.

Then I had an(other) Ah-Ha moment.

I'm not buying junk for my kids anymore.  The price of one of these sweet luscious watermelons is the same price as two bags of potato chips. I can afford watermelon!

We ate it for dessert and the kids were so happy, excited and full.   Watermelon is also filling!

I went to a cooking class at Whole Foods this weekend and I learned to make two meatless recipes.  I can't wait to make this for my family and add them to our regular menu.  Click here to see the recipes.

The Obama Plan

I've discussed the reasons for this transformation of my families habits.  The overall goal is to be more healthy.....and live longer.  The bonus is that we all lose weight and look better in our pants!

The real catalyst for this was the re-election of President Obama and the realization that we are stuck with ObamaCare.  This is not a political post and I'm not going to discuss the pros and cons of universal healthcare.

The reality is that things are going to change.  Health care professionals are going to quit, appointments are going to be harder to come by and surgeries will be denied. 

It's already happening.  My uncle Terry in California is 62 year old and waiting to die.  His kidneys are failing and he has been denied surgery.  He has many years left to live but it has been decided that the cost is too high.

We've explained to our children the reasons for the changes in our eating habits.  They know all about ObamaCare and that their Dad is old. (ha ha) They have dubbed our new plan....The Obama Plan!

So funny.




Now...for my weekly weigh in!

Starting weight:  211.6
Todays weight:   209
LOSS:                     2.6 pounds!!

I'm pretty happy with this number considering that I really haven't started exercising yet.  I just started today.

I'm also happy to report that after much pushback from my husband about his reduced portion sizes....he has lost 4 pounds since January 1st and is now fully on board! Funny how that works.....

My children are adjusting remarkably well.  They don't miss the juice, are loving the vegetables but they don't care for the whole wheat organic bread.

Linking up with The Java Mama for The Biggest Loser!

And So It Begins....

I just found out about a The Biggest Loser Challenge that is being hosted by The Java Mama!  If you're visiting me for the first time and want to learn more about my weight loss journey....click here.

I love finding new blogs to follow and people that are in the same boat as I am. Picture a bunch of us in a boat...eating spinach and quinoa. And doing jumping jacks. You DO NOT want to be the one that falls out of the boat.


 


 I had my official first meeting with my health coach Leslie Gail today. She came to my apartment and we talked about my goals and we went through my kitchen and looked at labels. She made some recommendations on items that I could replace with something healthier. I've decided that I'd like to try to make some items in my kitchen, so that I know exactly what is in them.

 It's important to me that my kids food have as little chemicals as possible. Basically, if it comes in a box....it's crap! I want to know what they are eating and know that it's good for them.

 I'm still struggling to find vegetables that my son will eat. We tried Red Pepper tonight. He didn't like it but I'll keep trying.

My Goals for January:

• Lose 6 pounds 
• No Candy/Cookie/Soda in the house. (if I don't buy them, I can't hide them) 
• Begin exercise program (videos on tv) 
• Make healthier meals. 
• Keep a food journal 
• Experiment with making bread, granola bars and spiced nuts. 
• Find an insulated snack container for my son's backpack snack.

I have to say....I am very excited to get started!  I'm encouraged that with Leslie's support and accountability, I'll reach my goals each month and make real lasting changes in my household.

I'm not just doing this for me and my health....it has to be a family change and effort or we'll just slip back into bad habits again.   I want to see my kids be healthy and make exercise a regular part of their life.  My husband is turing 50 this year and we have kindergarteners.  I want him to meet his grandchildren someday!  I know that's asking for a lot....but I think you should dream big or go home.

Per The Biggest Loser posting for this week....I'm sharing a motivation picture.

This picture is from 10 years ago.  I had just met my husband and I was regularly exercising and eating salad for dinner.  And I had long beautiful blonde hair!  I looked good, I felt good and gal darn it....people liked me.

I want her back.


By the way, Leslie Gail is available for Life/Health coaching and can work with you even if you don't live in Denver.  Contact her here if you're interested.

Release

Sometimes I feel like I need a psychiatrist.  Wait....is that who you go to when you're crazy pants?

I feel like my brain is the one that keeps me from breaking old habits and making new healthy ones.   I want to know why I do the things that I do and why I can't seem to stop doing them.  I've got the devil on one shoulder and the angel on the other and that devil kicks the angels ass all the time.

It's probably terrible parenting but we tell our kids that things are all in their heads.  You really don't like potatoes?  Even though you haven't tasted one yet?  It's all in your head, you've convinced yourself that you don't like that potato.  But you don't know....

I don't really need sugar.....or wine, but my brain thinks that I do and talks me into it.

I've got to find a way to override the system.

"You leave old habits behind by starting out with the thought, 'I release the need for this in my life." - Wayne Dyer

I release the need for sugar and alcohol in my life.  I don't need it and it's not good for me.  I can live without it and I'll be healthier without it.  My kids don't need it either.

Today is another day.  Another day to do my very best and resist the devil.

Lord help me.

No More Walking in Place

My meeting with my new health coach went well.  We talked about what I've done to lose weight....what has worked and what hasn't.  We talked about sugar addiction and the fact that I hide candy in my kitchen.  (bad connie)

The changes that I'm about to make in my home have been coming for a while.  We've been taking baby steps for several years but it's time to take big steps and finally move forward.

We're kind of walking in place right now and that's not doing anyone any good.

We're going to be working with Leslie Gail from New Life Focus and we've signed up for 3 months of support, recipes and accountability.  

I say WE because I'm dragging my husband and children along on this journey with me.  This is a group effort and I'm determined to succeed!

One of the main reasons for these changes is that I want my husband to live for a long time. He's going to be 50 this year and we have small children; I want him to be around to see them grow into awesome people.

I have a friend on twitter that just lost her husband two weeks ago.  He was 44 and he died of a heart attack.  This scares the hell out of me!  I'll do anything...including eat tons of spinach and kale, to keep my husband alive longer. 

Even though he yelled at me at The Container Store the other day and I threatened to kick his ass....I love him very much and I need him around.

Goals for January:

• Lose 8 pounds.  
• No candy/cookies/soda in my house.
• STOP HIDING SWEETS!
• Begin an exercise program.  Put in on the calendar!
• Make healthier meals.
• Research:  Low-fat Mexican Meals

Starting weight: 211.6 (dang you Christmas)

January weight: 208.6 (-3 pounds)

February weight:

March weight:

Total Lost:

Goals for 2013:

Lose 25 pounds and not find them again.

Run the 5K at school.

Exercise 5 days a week.

Take a real yoga class.

Get a Physical. (it's been 4 years) DONE January 2013

Get a Mammogram.

To see my OTHER goals, click here!