Week 6

Weight:

226

+2 lbs.

ExtraCise (as my daughter calls it):

Had a break in the 100+ weather so I did bike 2x this week. Not much else beyond the normal stretching and at home workout. I have gotten my husband on board to renew our Y membership.  I know I could give my foot a break if I could swim.  I have also ordered an aircast for my PF, hopefully it will arrive this week.

Eating Habits:

Mother nature disrupted my life again with her lovely cravings and water retention. I also enjoyed my son's birthday party and ate at the ML house a few times.

Measurements after 1 month

No change on the first 3 measurements

36.5 waist

15.5 calf 

 14 upper arm 

 47 hips  -1"

13.5 neck  -.5"

26.5 thigh  -1"

Week 5

Weight: 224.4

no loss or gain

Exercise:

Made a mistake early last week.  My foot felt the best it had in weeks and in my mind that meant to go out for a nice long walk at the track, run stairs, and then go for a bike ride.. Very Very Very bad idea.  My foot rebelled and I could barely walk the next day, or the day after that.  I have since stayed off it as much as possible. I did have my feet scanned and bought some expensive insoles, which feel like walking on a cloud.

Eating habits:

I have stayed within my calorie guidelines on most days, so I could eat my mother-in-laws fabulous home cooked meals and desserts, don't ever forget her desserts!

Overall I am happy that there was no gain, but I am getting very frustrated with the lack of exercise I can do.  I know that to lose the weight I have to do cardio and I need to find a way to do that. 

Week 4

Weight:

224.6

-2.2 lbs.

Exercise:

Basic stretching and simple exercises mon-wed

 (again no real cardio)

                  Thur. I did this----->Fri. I cried out in pain!!    

                                                   

                                          Sat. I had to crawl out of bed!!                                               

        Sun. I'm still hurting in places I didn't know I had!!

       Eating Habits:

   This week was a good week. I stayed within my calorie budget everyday but one (my cheat day).

 I have been having a very large green salad at least once a day.

  Still having a smoothie for breakfast.

   Adding in vegetables when ever possible and trying to avoid flours and sugars.

  I also removed diet sodas from my diet and replaced them with green tea and lemon.

Protein Shake Powder review

This is what their website says-

Protein Energizer™ Creamy Vanilla is a convenient, great-tasting source of protein and energy support. This high-protein, low-fat, low-carbohydrate shake provides 14 g of brown rice protein, targeted superfoods, botanicals, fiber - along with digestion-supporting enzymes - for comprehensive energy and stamina support.* Rainbow Light's formula is 100% natural and free of artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, preservatives and additives. Protein Energizer™ Vanilla is gluten-free, sugar-free and lactose-free and a great choice for people with allergy concerns. It is free of most common allergens, including soy, yeast, milk, eggs, nuts fish and shellfish. It is vegan, vegetarian and free of animal products. Protein Energizer™ Vanilla can be mixed with your favorite beverage for a healthy, delicious, immediate protein boost!

What they don't say is that it is gritty and tastes a little like vanilla playdough (or what playdough smells like).  I tried to mix it with multiple things to see if it works better with different fruits.  I found the taste gets a little more mild with banana, but with strawberries, blueberries, coffee, spinach, pineapple, and coconut the taste is almost unbearable.

The small bag (10.7 oz) cost me $13 at a organic grocery so it is not a cheap alternative.  I was looking for something plant based as most protein powders are whey based. 

I also needed something nut free.

 I will not be purchasing this again and will be on the look out for a different plant based powder mix.  I also need to figure out what to do with 12 more servings!! 

Grocery list must haves

A few of the must haves in my fridge/pantry so far:

Greek Yogurt- this goes in everything, smoothies, fruit, and even veggies.

(it is fat free and loaded with protein)

Rice cakes- great with laughing cow cheese or peanut butter

Fruits- learning to like cantaloupe, watermelon, blueberries, frozen strawberries (I'm allergic to fresh), and mangoes. Along with my favorites apples, bananas, grapes, pineapple, and mandarin oranges.

Veggies- cucumber, squash, green beans, lettuce, baby spinach, broccoli, carrots, celery, and cauliflower.

Coconut milk- low fat and low calorie brand from health food store

Green Goddess Juice

Bolthouse Mocha Cappuccino with protein.

skim milk

hummus

cheese sticks

turkey breast

tuna

pretzel chips

Pinterest Fail

To boost weight loss - 2L water, 1 medium cucumber, 1 lemon, 10-12 mint leaves. steep overnight in fridge and drink every day.

Sounds easy and so so on the possibility of taste, but YUCK is how it turns out.  I even gave it a second try and couldn't choke down 4 oz.

Week 3

Weight:

226.8

-1.4 lbs

Exercise:

Still very little cardio but continuing with my strength training and stretches.

My foot continues to hurt even with the exercises. I go back to work tomorrow after having 5 days off and I am wondering how much my foot will hurt standing on it all day. The weather has changed drastically from 100 (110 with heat index) to mid to high 80s. I need to get out and take advantage of this change but can't find the motivation or drive.

Eating Habits:

This week has been very rough on the fat girl who wants to eat all her favorites. My sister in law and kids are in town which means wonderful home cooked meals at my in-laws. Top that off with the funeral of my husband's grandma and all the wonderful food that goes along with it. I have been trying to eat 2 servings of veggies at lunch and supper before eating my meat or starch. I have also been taken cues from my stick thin sister in law when spooning on the servings. I have allowed myself dessert at these meals. Although normally I would have a huge piece of cake or brownie, I have cut that serving in half and no seconds. Fortunately for me my mother in law has not made her amazing cheesecake yet!

Damn you plantar fasciitis

For the last week and a half I have been trying to alleviate the heel pain I have.  I have tried stretches, ice, wearing a splint at night, taking it easy with walking, and no running. The pain is much better when waking, at first I couldn't put my foot flat on the ground for the first 10 minutes of the day without extreme pain. Now only the first couple steps hurt.  I have noticed that my calf muscle is sore and cramping a lot more than normal.  With my ruptured disc I always have calf pain but this is more often than normal. Since I am on my feet standing on the hard floor at work all day I also bought some new arch support inserts for my shoes. I am trying to keep from going to the dr. but if this lasts much longer or gets worse I think I will have to bite the bullet and go. I will be off work for the next 3 days so I am hoping that will give my foot some time to heal.

Chocolate Banana Pudding Smoothie

1 banana (frozen)

1/2 cup greek non fat plain yogurt

1 tablespoon fat free sugar free banana pudding powder

1 tbs. coconut oil

protein powder (I used chocolate, but vanilla would be good too)

1/4 cup skim milk

32 g protein

3 g fiber

21 g sugar

330 calories

Week 2

weight 228.2
+2 lbs.

I know I need to do cardio to lose weight, but this foot pain has put a halt to that.  I have been doing mostly strength training and stretching. I would like to think that it is muscle that I gained but I'm not too sure about that.  I have done fairly good with sticking to 1200-1400 calories, with 2 days that I went 50-100 calories over.

Sun- 30 minute walk (even at 9pm the humidity and heat about did me in)
Mon- 50 minute walk  (felt great except aching rt. heel and numb lt. toes)
also cleaned out the basement
Tues- strength training
Wed-nothing
Thu-strength training & 30 bike ride
Fri-strength training
Sat-nothing

My foot and lower rt. leg has been very painful so I decided to take some time off from walking/running for a few weeks.