Todays Lunch

Now, before you decide to approach a healthy lifestyle, make sure you don't eliminate any food groups since nutrition is the key to a healthy weight loss plan. For example, low carb fads are not realistic as far as long term. It works great but its too restrictive in my opinion. I'm not throwing shade to anyone who chooses to go that route, I'm just simply stating its not for me.

My plan includes every food group out there, except in portion control and moderation. The ever so popular Lean Cuisine Meals have become a staple in my kitchen. They are rather tasty, nutritious, perfectly portioned and reasonably priced. This particular meal includes White meat chicken with bowtie pasta, asparagus,broccoli and carrots in a creamy garlic parmesan sauce. SOOO GOOD! You have to try this. Its filling, eye pleasing, and it does what its supposed to do. IT HELPS ME LOSE WEIGHT! Lean Cuisine has lots of healthy options to choose from on their site. Go and check them out:)

Bad News!

Hey Guys,
I went on vacation to America from Japan (my current residence is Japan) and this vacation caused me to fall off track COMPLETELY!! I have done the following:

• ate 2 large Pizza Hut Pizzas in 2 days
• ate over 3000 calories in a days time
• started smoking cigarettes again
• stopped drinking 8 bottles of water a day
• haven't worked out since I've been back
• sleeping schedule is all messed up
• late night binge eating

And thats just to name a few. I had got down to 173 on my vacation, but then I started eating good food that my mom and sister in law cooked and now I am up to a whopping 186 lbs. That is a 13 lb gain within 2-3 weeks! I am so devastated with my hard work gone down the drain only because I went on a vacation! I need all the support and motivation I can get during this trying time. I want so bad to be able to get back on track and stop smoking cigs... I haven't smoked cigs in YEARS and now I am back to smoking...gee - I am so mad. Well, thats my update and hopefully you guys can whip me back into shape and get me back on track! SMoocHeS!

Diligence and persistence

I have been beating myself up in the gym. I work out until I have burned a total of 600 calories or more. I won't leave until I have atleast 600 calories burnt off my waist line. I have gotten to the point where I am comfortable in my skin and i feel confident enough to walk around the gym without a frumpy sweater and huge pants. My transformation is breath taking, its a huge undertaking and I can't believe someone like me - a once lazy, sedentary, fried food and french fry loving woman such as myself has turned to a healthy lifestyle.



Here is a rundown of my diet today:

Breakfast - 1/2 cup scrambled eggs w/green pepper and onion

1 bananna

1 piece of toast



Snack 1/4 cup walnuts

1 smoothie w/ bananna, strawberries, and rasperries/yogurt



Lunch 1 cup butternut squash soup

1/2 grapefruit (ruby red)



Dinner baked beans

cereal bar (fiber one)

TOTAL CALORIES!!! 1445



I had lots and lots of water and I went to the gym twice today for a total of 840 calories burned in ONE DAY!! I have been busy with getting ready for a big trip from Japan to america and I am sorry I havent had the time to update my blog but once I am back home in Japan, i will update more frequently. Thank you for all the support and kindness!! I appreciate it:)

How to do the Liver Flush

What is a Liver Flush you ask, well I did a video on this a while ago so check it out, but if you are unable to view the video...here is some useful information on the liver flush:

One of your liver's main tasks is to regulate the metabolism of fat, and to remove excess fat from your body in the bile. Alcohol, chemicals in the home or workplace, medicinal drugs and excess waste products resulting from a poor diet (especially from processed foods) can all damage your liver. They cause excessive fat to build up within your liver, which impairs its ability to function. This means that your liver is no longer able to handle fats properly, allowing fat to start accumulating around your waistline or being deposited under your skin as cellulite SO FLUSH IT!!!!!

In some severe cases of excessively fatty livers and/or slow sluggish livers, it may be necessary to continue on the liver cleanse for several months to see good results. I've heard upto 6 months for optimal results. However some people see results much sooner than that.
Some people also opt to add another supplement to this regime in order to increase the bodys ablility to burn off fat stores such as Omega 3 supplements and Fish oil/flaxseed oil

Fatty degeneration of the liver is not a condition that often makes the headlines. Yet it affects more than 50 per cent of people The most common symptoms of this condition are difficulty in losing weight, a potbelly or 'spare tyre', cellulite and a high blood cholesterol reading (which can be detected through a simple blood test).

It's vital to look after your liver - it's the largest organ in your body and has many important functions. Everything that you eat, breathe or absorb through your skin must be refined and detoxified by your liver.

INGREDIENTS:
2 Lemon Juice (real lemons)
2 Grapefruit Juice(real grapefruits)
2 Oranges (real oranges)
1/4 cup Olive Oil
2 TBSP Epsom Salt
LOTS OF WATER

wisk the first 5 ingredients together to emulsify the ingredients, then add water gradually throughout the day and sip. This will cause you to go to the bathroom so make sure you can stay in all day. When I did this on 1/25/2009 I lost 4.2 lbs at my next weigh in so it works!

Lastnights Feast!!

1 chicken breast........................... 110 calories
2 cups spinach w/ garlic and onions.....60 calories
1 cup of GOYA yellow spanish rice......140 calories

As you can see, I placed the fork across the plate so you could see just how small my plate truly is. I saw the camera sitting on the bar in my kitchen, so i hurriedly and took the pic, sorry I didn't fancy up the plate for presentation purposes but you get the point, right. This whole meal (tasty too) was only 310 calories, and I even had a 60 calorie sugar free cup of chocolate pudding for dessert. YUM!
I haven't been working out as diligently as I used to. I still go to the gym frequently but when I get in there, my energy and drive isn't all there. I think I need a pick me up, or maybe a drastic change on the scale to whip me into shape. I was telling you guys that the scale was at 179 for about a week constantly - well - now its back to being 183 and I am soooo jacked up and mad about that. All of this work, and I can't even crack the 170's for good! I keep tipping the scale in the 170's and then I am right back into the 180's again *sighs and shrugs shoulders*

I won't give up, though. I will keep on keeping on and get this weight off! I know if anyone can commit to something and stick to it, it is ME!

My goal this week is to totally eliminate sugar for the week and only eat foods that naturally have sugar in them such as fruits and whatever else naturally with sugar in it (cant think of anything else). Well, that is all for now. Stay tuned

I Cheated

Guess what everybody. I am so disgusted with my choices
I gave into temptation, the fat girl inside just couldn't say no.
I feel so bad, but it was sooo good!
Actually, it taste like old grease and grade F beef, but ...

I just ate a whopper w/cheese = 670 calories
and I ate a medium sized french fry along with it = 360 calories
Thats a total of 1300 calories of which most was from fat
I'm going to work on the elliptical tonight for a whole hour
That should burn 650-700 calories easily...
Hey, we all cheat sometimes. I blame my husband!
Hes the one who got off work early and said he wants Burger King!
He sent me to the store to get it, it smelled so good that I had to have some
but unfortunately, I am regretting it to the fullest right now.
Don't worry you guys, I am not going to cheat like this forever,
This was just a small episode, and I am too determined to win.
This morning I got on the scale and it said 179 so I have to stay in the 170's
because I've never been in the 170's

Well that is all for now

What I usually eat during my diet

First of all, I usually eat every 3 hours. This is how a typical day goes for me from 7am until 7pm. I get my cardio and gym work out from 530-630pm and then I go home and eat dinner. Here is my day at a glance. This is the diet that has been working wonders for me:)

BREAKFAST 7am
2 boiled eggs
1 piece of toast
1/2 ruby red grapefruit
16.9 oz bottle of water w/powdered fiber

MORNING SNACK 10am
1 granola bar
1/2 cup raisins
1 tbsp peanut butter (spread on granola bar)
16.9 oz bottle of water w/powdered fiber

LUNCH 1pm
2 tbsp Peanut Butter
on cracked wheat bread (1 slice)
1 Banana
1 Chocolate Jello pudding cup (sugar free)
16.9 oz bottle of water w/powdered fiber

MIDDAY SNACK 330pm
Kashi 7 grain crackers (5 of them)
35 calorie lowfat laughing cow cheese
1 slice of turkey
1 cup Steamed corn
16.9 oz bottle of water w/powdered fiber

DINNER 7pm
1 skinless chicken breast (bone in)
1 cup of green beans
1 cup edemame soybeans
16.9 oz bottle of water w/powdered fiber

So, thats what I eat. Tell me if you decide to try this diet and if you think I should twerk it or change anything/add anything. I need all the advice I can get. Thanks

A Diet Divas Delight!!!

Yummmm, a sugar free chocolate delight! Jello sugar-free pudding is my new obsession! You can't even tell the difference. The texture is smooth, thick, velvety, very chocolaty, and it has only 60 calories, 1 gram of fat, and it has this stuff called sugar alcohol in it to make it sweet! You can't gain weight eating sugar alcohol!!
Whats sugar alcohol, you ask?
Sugar alcohols are like sugar in some ways, but they are not completely absorbed by the body which is awesome for our weight loss goals. Because of this, the blood sugar impact of sugar alcohols is less and they provide fewer calories per gram. Additionally, sugar alcohols don't promote tooth decay as sugars do, so are often used to sweeten chewing gum and of course, pudding. These sugar alcohols actually inhibits bacterial growth in the mouth and it doesn't convert to fat if you don't use it for energy, isn't that the best thing you've heard all day?!
Go out and buy you some sugar freejell-o pudding cups, my friends! My chocolate lovers, get the chocolate flavor! They are only .99 cents for 4 cups and it calms the chocolate cravings and keeps your weight loss journey on a smooth, bump free ride
YUMMMMMMMMM! I LOVE JELL-O!

My meeting with the Fitness Coordinator

Me 1/2009 @ 188 lbs

Today I met with a fitness coordinator affiliated with the U.S. Military. My husband is in the Navy so I get a whole lot of benefits in regards to a better, healthier me. One of those benefits happen to be the free gym as well as a fitness coordinator. So, you're asking yourself right now 'what does a fitness coordinator do'? Well, shes the one who works in the gym that gives you a detailed rundown on what you should be eating in your diet to lose weight and shes the one who shows me how to use the gym equipment efficiently to lose weight. I learned how to use a few machines and thats IT....
Let me tell ya'll something..... she didn't teach me anything that I didn't already know. The diet she laid out for me was what I am already eating. As a matter of fact, I gave her quite a few pointers. Heres a few of the ideas she took from me, she was so excited to have my tips as her own and asked if she could share them with future clients, I said sure. I told her:

• Take an Omega 3 (fish oil) with 1 meal daily
  
• Eat sugar free 70 calorie Jello Pudding cups for chocolate cravings
• Use the powdered Fibersure Fiber powder in my water (5grams of fiber per serving)
• Eat Kashi 7 grain crackers with Laughing Cow cheese for a snack
• Eat edamame beans after my work out
• Drink Lemon Water to detoxify and get the digestion system moving(more on this later)
• Wear weights on my ankles when doing house work to get maximum calories burned
• Use frozen fruit and blend it with yogurt to get my milk and fruit for the day
  

She told me that I should apply for the open position to be a fitness coordinator. I was like 'yea right' and she told me its a no experience required position. To be honest, I think she was being sarcastic and trying to belittle me but whatever - I wasn't too offended..atleast I didn't show it. For those of you who were looking for some tips from the fitness coordinator, I am sorry to tell you that I left with one tip from her. That tip is:

• Always pair up a sugar, fruit, or carb with fiber in order to keep blood sugar levels normal

And thats all I got from her..... I am meeting with the dietitian next week, so I hope its better luck with her. I did learn how to use quite a few machines, but this food thing - I am still a baby in it and I am trying to become a diet food guru! Wish me luck

Black Beans! Our answer to weight loss!

If you're SICK and TIRED of getting the same old boring weight loss advice... you know, like "Eat more fruits and vegetables, drink 8 glasses of water, jog, and blah blah blah", then...add a Fiber All Star - BLACK BEANS!!
Black beans are your answer to efficient weight loss and maintaining a healthy glow to your skin with its endless amounts of antioxidants as well as getting ample amounts of protein for the day. Black Beans also has soluble fiber. Soluble fiber absorbs water in the stomach that forms a gel that slows down the metabolism of the bean's carbohydrates. Whats that got to do with me, you ask? Well if you slow down the metabolism strictly for the carbs in the beans, the fiber which the beans have will move the carbs right out of your body before you can snap your finger which means NO WEIGHT GAIN!!! We want to speed up our metabolism, so get that fiber in the form of black beans!! Fiber isn't absorbed in the body, so when it exits the body in the feces, it takes the bile acids with it along with lots and lots of fat. Black beans are leans, practically fat free, low on the glycemic index, and they are beneficial to replacing meat which is slower in digesting than beans.
When researchers analyzed different types of beans, they found that, the darker the bean's seed coat, the higher its level of antioxidant activity! If you want to lose weight without doing all of the walking, running, gym memberships, and headaches of counting calories...try eating lean beans, eggs, and lots of broccoli and califlower! I promise you will see results!

p.s if you team up your black beans with a cup of rice, the beans will keep the rice low on the glycemic index and keep your blood sugar normal which will prevent weight gain. If you ABSOLUTELY MUST have a carb, always pair it with a fiber rich food...and that is your tip for the day:)

Your metabolism is a FURNACE!!!

• Kashi 7 grain garlic and wheat crackers (120 calorie)
  
• Laughing cow 50% less fat swiss cheese (35 calorie)
  
• 1 slice of ham (15 calorie)
• half of ruby red grapefruit (37 calorie)
• bottle of 16.9 oz water and fiber sure powdered fiber (25 calorie)

• TOTAL CALORIES - 232 CALORIES

Every meal I eat, I try to have 300 calories per meal. I eat 5x a day and I eat 300 calories (or less) every meal. Think of your body as a smaller furnace. If you don't give the furnace any wood every 3 hours the fire will most likely smother out and stop burning...well if you keep giving the furnace wood (or oil whichever suits your metaphoric brain better) it will continue to burn and need more wood inserted into it so that the fire can stay alive. Well, thats how our bodies work. If you keep eating, your body will not mistake you for going into a famine. The reason why we store fat and our metabolisms slow down is because the body is preparing for a famine. If you give the body food constantly thoroughout the day, the body will say
"gee I sure am glad this famine is over so now we can burn up this food and get it out of here... I got tired of storing this stuff"
Think about that....
(more on this later)

The wonders of Edamame!!!

So I had these with a teaspoon of olive oil, lite salt and pepper. YUMMY!!!! Edamame is a complete protein containing all the eseential Amino Acids our bodies need to efficiently burn fat. They are a great source of protein, fiber, essential fatty acids, and isoflavones (found only in Soy). It is an excellent food for weight loss as well. If you are looking for that miracle food to lose weight, try these soybeans. They retail (frozen) for about 3 bucks and they have more protein than a chicken breast! The fiber content is also high and if you eat a cup of these babies, you will have half of your necessary fiber for the day. Fiber is a superfood which moves fat out of the intestines and prevents it from absorbing into your body and sitting on your waist. Please try these cheap yet credible beans in place of meat every once in a while and you will see results!
Read more on Edamame by clicking here

My healthy high protein dinner

I had baked chicken
brussel sprouts
black beans
water w/fiber sure
jello pudding for dessert:) (lowfat fa sho')
Notice the plate is very small, its a salad plate. Also take notice of the portions. When committing yourself to a weight loss plan...sometimes its necessary to say goodbye to the starch filled dishes at dinner time (brown rice, pasta, bread etc). You get carbs from the beans as well as the vegetables. I don't recommend completely cutting carbs but cutting back on the white breads and heavy starches at dinner is a good idea and if you do choose to indulge, always have a 1 cup serving. Black beans are extremely high in protein as well as fiber. Thats always a plus. Black beans could have been the main dish on my plate but since I am looking to build muscle in order to burn this fat, my protein portions has increased dramatically. Always make sure that protein is over 60% of your dinner and I promise results. If you like me posting what I eat, let me know so that I can do this more frequently.

My Ideal breakfast

I got this idea from a blogger to take pics of my food just to show you guys what I eat. I wont do this everyday but you will get an idea as to whats promoting my weight loss for me. I put the fiber sure in a bottle of water, eggs, banana, and 1 slice of toast with prenatal vitamin and a omega 3 capsule helps me to start my day with energy, fat burning, and happiness that I am not gulfing down trash in my body. The eggs and toast with fruit is surprisingly my new favorite breakfast:)