Facing down the Dragon...

I faced down my own personal dragon today.  Nora wanted to go to the carnival which we promised she could quite a few months ago.  You know- before I decided to be a reformed carb a holic.  The carnival is a perfect opportunity to get foods like elephant ears and funnel cakes. 

So as Nora was running around the house getting ready to go I was waging a war with my dragon.  Do I abandon all the hard work in getting OFF carbs in the first place and gorge myself on funnel cakes at the carnival?  Or should I stand strong and stay the course knowing that in the long run I will be all the better for not induging.

So we went to the carnival and I saw people eating those lovely fried funnel cakes loaded down with strawberries and whipped cream.  Oh man.  My mouth was watering and I was thanking my lucky stars that it wasn't a hot July day because my will power might have melted. 

Instead, Nora got to ride all her favorite rides and a few new ones that she is now tall enough to ride.  Then we went to Wal-Mart and grabbed a couple movies out of the Redbox and we had a fun afternoon watching movies together.

I couldn't believe it.  I made it out of the carnival without eating Fair Food!!  Either this is a mark of personal growth or there is something wrog with me! ;)

View from my Dining room!

As promised earlier- this is my neighbors garden.  It is in this narrowish strip between out two driveways.  I didn't get the greatest shot- but there is a lovely mixture of tulips, lupin, and lots of other stuff out there as well as some beautiful rocks!

Down 10lbs and a pant size

I have met my modified goal of losing 10 pounds in a month.  I still have two days left so let's see by how much I can exceed it! 

Now her is the really exciting news.  About 6 months ago I was buying new pants because all my others were getting too small.  I knew a certain size and make of the "George" brand at Walmart would work and I wanted nice looking slacks.  I was in a hurry so I grabbed a pair, but did not try it on.  I was ashamed when I realized I had grabbed the wrong size but I didn't have time to exchange them.  So I have been lugging around these size 16 slacks that were WAY too small for me for all this time. 

They were so small that I could not even think of buttoning them and I was having a hard time getting them over my mammoth thighs.  Yuck.  Not a fun mental image there.  Sorry about that.  Then my 18s started to get tight.  Yikes.  This was getting out of control.  Then I hit my heaviest ever.  193.  On a 5 foot frame.  Really not good.

So now I am on the Atkins journey and have lost actually from my heaviest- just shy of 13 pounds in a month and week.

So tonight, inspired by the losses posted by others on the Atkins board I decided to try on my own personal albatross.  And guess what?  Over the thighs.... great I think!  Over the rump- even better!  Can I button (this was where I had had about a 3-4 inch gap before)?  Suck it in...and yes!  Button!  Can I slip buckle?  Yes!  And can I zip?  Yes!

Now to be sure- they are a bit skin tight over the rump and thighs...so they won't be on my wardrobe list for another week or two- but this is the first time EVER that I have actually gotten the darn things on!!  My current size 18s from the same company are starting to get loose and I could pull them down and off without unbuttoning if I really wanted to.  I don't need a belt with them yet but I am SO looking forward to the day when I do!  I have some jeans that have been patiently waiting for me to stop being such a cow that are now going to get to see the light of day again.  I am so so excited!

I am starting my exercise in earnest now.  Horseback riding and working on the Eliptical as well as walking on my breaks.  Do you think I can step up the weightloss and hit 15lbs next month?  That was my goal this month but I didn't quite make it.  I would dearly love to surprise my family with a great loss before my Grandfather's birthday on June 9th.  Lets see- so I am 181 right now so I could be in the 160's before June 9th then I am going to be the happiest girl!  That would put me back to what I weighed about the time Nora was born and I would have to buy new clothes!!  I can't wait until I have to buy new clothes because everything is too big!

I am having so much fun losing weight.  It is so much more fun than putting on the pounds!

Good Morning!

 

This morning is gorgeous here in South Eastern Montana.  The sun is up and I can already feel that it will be a warm, glorious day.   The Johnny Jump Ups are flowering all over the yard and my neighbor has this wonderful garden that I can see outside my window in our dining room.  I am so grateful that she has planted this beautiful space.  It really gives me a lot of pleasure to see her garden.  You can tell that over the years she has added and cared for it with an artist’s eye.  I’ll try to get a picture tomorrow to share.

 

Still plugging away with Induction on Atkins.  You can stay on it as long as you want and I really want to keep losing weight as quickly as is healthy and possible.  Going to the Ongoing Weight Loss is reputed to slow weight loss down a bit so until I am within 15-20 pounds of my goal- I am going to keep on induction.  I think I can still get a 10 pound loss for this month which makes me so happy!   I really need to incorporate some stretches and exercise into my program so starting today, I am going to take all my breaks outside and walk around the building where I work!

 

I am so happy that the warmth of spring is here.  Spring is always such a wonderfully hopeful and renewing time.  As if seeing new grass and plants coming up encourages us to renew our spirits as well.  I am all for a little spring cleaning of the soul… How about you?

 

Weight Loss Journey Continues

My initial weight loss has slowed down somewhat, but I have lost just over 8 pounds in less than a month.  That is amazing to me.  I have never had consistent weight loss before.  I was hoping to lose 15 pounds this month, but I will take 10!  I think that is an achievable goal. :)

Second week of Induction starts today!

So I closed out the first week of induction with a total loss of 6.1 pounds!  Yay!  I am so so excited!  What a great feeling!  I was hoping to make it a round 7 pounds but last night I tried the "Muffin in a Minute" recommended on the Atkins community board.  It's made with ground flaxseed instead of flour.  This poured a lot of fiber into my system and I think that actually kept the scale from budging now but having a regular influx of a strong fiber is good and needed and I am sure the weight loss will catch up in a day or so.

I am still striving for a loss of 15 pounds in a month.  I am hoping that by adding a little more exercise I can race for the finish.  I know 15 is an arbitrary number but it would just be so so fantastic! 

So far I am enjoying the diet and losing weight.  I don't feel deprived and I certainly feel like I have more energy mid-day and a more positive attitude.

Wish me luck!

And the Journey Contiues!

Another pound lost!  I am 6 pounds from when I started Atkins and 7 pounds from my heaviest weight.  It's not fun to contemplate that not too long ago I was horrified when I saw the scale tip into the 180's and now I am happy that at least it is going down and not up!  Only 9 pounds left to meet my goal for the month.  I am feeling better and better about it all the time. I have two days to lose another pound and a half to meet the half way mark on the half way mark of the month.  I really should be including more exercise.  I am goig to try walking during my breaks today at work.

So here is what I ate yesterday:

Two egg omlette withe mushroom and cheese
Two sausages
Water

Lunch:
Baked Chicken Breast with butter and season salt
Salad with a little of the chicken butter dizzled on top (I know it sounds weird but it tasted AMAZING!)
Water

Dinner:
Turkey Leg
Two Sausages
Water

During the day I made myself some orange cream soda water which was good and we discovered that by making shave ice, using some of the shave ice syrup (sugar free) and putting some heavy cream in it.  I probably am over doing on the heavy cream- but it sure makes a satisfying end to a meal!  It has literally stopped my cravings flat. 

I am really looking forward to all the great changes that this diet is going to bring to my body!  I feel better than I have in a long time!