Day 29 - September 25, 2009

2.5 POUNDS LOST THIS WEEK!

I did it again! Another 2.5 pounds! That makes four weeks in a row of consistent weight loss. I'm going to assume, then, that my of the 3 pounds lost after the first week, only 1/2 pound was water weight. Woohoo! This means I've lost a total of 10.5 pounds in 4 weeks! In theory (which is unlikely to happen, because I know how weight loss works), that means I could be down to my healthy weight by Christmas! My guess is, I'm going to hit my goal weight somewhere between mid-January and mid-February.

Wow, I'm just so pleased. Even though my mph has dropped a bit during my walks (by tenths of a point), I'm still clearly making progress! I think that means I can put off buying that weight vest a little bit longer. And I've not used my e-cigarette in a week! No smoking of any kind at all! Yay!

I'm officially "overweight" now; 1/2 a pound ago I was "obese." And I've lost 23% of my weight loss goal (10.5lbs out of 45lbs)!

I’ve been using an application on my iPhone to track my exercise (calories burned) and diet (calories, fat, protein, & carbs consumed) called Daily Burn. I’m using the free version, which basically does what I want; the “Pro” version tracks other things too: cholesterol, iron, etc. The application then syncs to a web account on http://www.dailyburn.com/ so I can see it on a bigger screen (and see more stats, too.) Well, Daily Burn just made my life a little bit easier. They have a new app (for $2.99) that scans barcodes! So instead of having to search for my food in their database (which can take awhile, depending on how many versions of blueberry yogurt Dannon makes, etc.), I just hold the barcode near the camera lens on my iPhone and it automatically scans it and searches for me! Then it syncs with my application and web account. Awesome! Now, of course, it won’t scan everything; my hard-boiled egg doesn’t come with a barcode, but really, if I got upset about that, I’d need my mental status “scanned.”

9:05 AM Quaker Low Sugar Instant Oatmeal maple brown sugar (I can tell there’s sugar missing; tasted like regular non-flavored oatmeal)
10:50 AM large hard-boiled egg
12:20 PM Lean Cuisine cheese ravioli (scanned with my iPhone, of course)
3:15 PM Dannon Light & Fit blueberry yogurt
4:20 PM 3/4 cup pineapple chunks
6:30 PM leftover McD's salad and 1 microwaved chicken breast (I know, sounds weird, but it's actually very juicy)
7:15 PM small bottled Starbucks mocha frappucino (so I could get cash back at Arco)

In general: 60oz of water

13 minutes of walking at 3.5mph
14 minutes of walking at 3.4mph
14 minutes of walking at 3.4mph

I'm not sure I'll be able to post this weekend: lots going on. But I'll do my best

Day 28 - September 24, 2009

Today's my picture day! I can't wait to get home tonight and have my mom take my picture! Knowing how much I've lost (come back tomorrow to see this week's weigh-in), there's bound to be noticeable changes. I'll post the new picture on this post tonight around 10-ish and also put it next to my picture from 8/27 on my main page so I can compare the two.

9:30 AM Quaker instant oatmeal Cinnamon & Spice12:10 PM Lean Cuisine fettuccini alfredo
1:05 PM 1/2 cup fat free cottage cheese
3:15 PM Dannon Light & Fit raspberry yogurt
4:15 PM 1/2 Granny Smith apple
7:25 PM 1 1/2 grilled chicken breast from McD's
9:50 PM 1/2 grilled chicken breast & Caesar salad w/ ranch dressing from McD's, fat free skim milk

In general: 60oz of water

13 minutes of walking at 3.3mph
14 minutes of walking at 3.2mph
14 minutes of walking at 3.2mph

<---- See how my shorts are a bit lower than my belly button? That's because they don't stay up anymore! What a fabulous problem to have!

Day 27 - September 23, 2009

I'm so excited to post my 4-week picture tomorrow night! I am starting to see the weight loss now; I think my stomach looks smoother, and I'm fairly certain I've lost weight in my legs, judging by how my freshly-washed jeans fit the other day!

8:55 AM Kashi instant oatmeal, Maple Golden Brown
10:40 AM large hard-boiled eggs
12:15 PM Lean Cuisine Spaghetti with Meatballs
2:40 PM Dannon Light & Fit strawberry yogurt
4:20 PM fresh pineapple (yum!)
7:30 PM roasted chicken breast, salad, mini-wontons, fat free skim milk

In general: 60oz of water

14 minutes of walking at 3.4mph
14 minutes of walking at 3.3mph
15 minutes of walking at 3.3mph - my left ankle started giving me trouble during my last walk. I hope it gives that up by tomorrow.

So, just in case anyone wants to know about the pineapple:

I have a Pampered Chef Pineapple Wedger. I bought my pineapple for $2.99 at Vons. When I cut the pineapple, I got about 5 or 6 cups of pineapple chunks. I split the pineapple into 5 resealable baggies and squeezed all the air out. If I'd bought the store-brand can of pineapple chunks, I'd have paid about the same price as my pineapple, but nothing beats fresh pineapple. Plus, the rind is now composting (is that a word) out in my backyard.

Day 19 - September 15, 2009

The energy that comes from exercise has finally arrived. The last few days I've woken up before my alarm sounds, though I've stayed in bed, reluctant to give up my comfy spot. But since it's been persistant, I might actually start to get up on time!

It's been two weeks since I quit smoking. I still use my ecigarette in the car, but not as much. For example, I used it yesterday on my way to work, but didn't use it at all the rest of the day. My sense of smell is getting better: when I got out of the elevator on my floor at work today, I could smell that someone had made instant ramen (which of course I soooo wish I could have right now).

8:45 AM Kirkland Signature weight loss shake

11:51 AM 1/2 cup cottage cheese, 1 Bartlett pear

8:00 PM 1 slice of sourdough bread, grilled. 2 all-beef hotdogs, 2/3 cup of chili, 1/8 cup of shredded cheese

In general: 70oz of water

13 sit-ups (from laying flat to touching toes)

42 minutes of walking