I’ve got 2006 off to a good start at the end of week one on my Body-for-LIFE Challenge! My official weekly weigh in reflects a 5lb weigh loss since I began this thing. Ok, ok - it’s water weight. But who is kidding who? 5lbs is 5lbs when it comes to the ‘feel good’ part of this whole thing!

That, and I’m beginning to feel it - and to me, that’s the most important part.

With the 5lb weight loss came a total of 3 inches off my measurements from last week. I checked and rechecked my measurements just to make sure, because 3 inches seems like a lot of inches after only 5lbs, doesn’t it? I’m not sure. But, my tape measure tells me I lost 2 inches off my waist, 1/2 inch off my hips and 1/2 inch off my upper thigh - all my other measurements remained the same.

Today, I did so-so on the eating part. We woke up really super late after being up all night celebrating New Year’s Eve - - so I didn’t get my normal start on the day. I did, however, try the aerobic exercise first thing in the morning before consuming anything else first. It was not easy, let me just say. And even though the recommendation is for 20 minutes first thing in the morning, I only managed 12 minutes on the treadmill before my body was just not going to wrok with me anymore. I think I put it into aerobic shock first thing out of bed. I guess it’s something I have to build up on, hey?

My intake for the day:

Breakfast:
1 Chive & Cheese Egg White Omlete
1 Orange
1 8 ounce herbal tea
16 oz H2O

Snack:
1 BFL Shake
1 NoPudge Brownie (love, love these!)
16 oz H2O

Lunch:
1 whole wheat wrap w/ roasted turkey
1 8 oz Protein Juice
16 oz H2O
1 Orange

Snack:
1 BFL Shake
16 oz H2O

That’s as far as I got before it was time for bed. I know I skipped dinner tonight - - but, seriously, we were up until 5:30am in the morning and didn’t wake up until 2pm. Tomorrow is another day.

Week two, here I come!

I try hard to keep track of a few things in my diet these days:

1. Water intake - I’m ALL over it!
2. Protein intake - I try to do 125 grams per day
3. Dietary Fiber
4. Fat - obviously trying to keep as much OUT of my diet as possible
5. Carbs - everything in moderation

To give myself a few protein ‘lifts’ in my day - I searched out a few high protein snacks to give me that little extra. A few that I’ve tried, and liked!

Herbalife’s Protein Drink Mix gives me a whopping 15 grams of protein in one delicious juice drink. It comes in two flavors - Peach Mango and Wild Berry. Wild Berry is my favorite juice - it’s very tasty, I’m not too fond of the Peach Mango at all. Although, I have found, if I mix the Peach Mango drink mix with 1 cup of nonfat vanilla yogurt - it tastes JUST as good as peach yogurt, plus the yogurt I eat from Stoney Field Farms packs in another 9 grams of protein.

The Body-for-LIFE ready-to-drink shakes are great! They taste good and I have better results from these than I ever did with SlimFast. First off, they fill me up and make me feel as if I’ve consumed something - whereas SlimFast always made me feel like I just consumed a glass of water. In terms of nutrition?:

• 15 grams protein
• 23-25 vitamins and minerals
• 5 grams fiber
• 190 calories

Their nutrition bars are pretty darned good, too, at 15 grams of protein each.

I used to always order them online - but now can buy them in my local grocery store. And no, I don’t get any compensation for linking this stuff… it’s just things I use in my daily diet to help get the levels of protein and calories that I need.

For that dietary fiber, I rely mainly on fruits:

• 4 dried apricots halves - 1 gram fiber
• 1 apple - 7 grams fiber
• Blueberries - 1 cup - 3.5 grams fiber
• Raw Rasberries - 1 cup - 8 grams fiber

I also have added grapefruits and grapefruit juice to my diet recently. Besides loving grapefruits and grapefruit juice (with just a dash of splenda to ease the tartness) - I read this recently at Hungry Girl:

We’re not sure if it has magical fat-burning properties or not, but research suggests that this sweet ‘n sour citrus fruit can aid in weight loss. One small Scripps Clinic study found that eating half a grapefruit or drinking 4 ounces of juice with meals (without making any other changes in eating habits) resulted in an average weight loss of more than 3 pounds in 12 weeks. Scientists speculate that the weight loss happens because grapefruit lowers insulin levels, which curbs your urge to snack. And, of course, the less you snack, the easier it is to lose weight. HG Tip: If grapefruit is a little too tart for you, try sprinkling a little Splenda on top.

Those are my tid bits of the day.

So, I’m browsing the web - trying to get some really great ideas for meals and snacks that stay within my guidelines before I go grocery shopping this morning. I come across this site that discusses some reallly great snacks that will help you curb your cravings for sweets. Since my sweet tooth is my BIGGEST obstacle - I read on!

It suggests a list of ‘mini-desserts’ to substitute for full-blown desserts and claims I’ll see my cravings level off. Even More? I’ll start feeling satisfied and less like I’m depriving myself.

Top of the list?

3 regular Hershey’s kisses.

It cautions me to eat them slow, and savor each bite - tricking my body into thinking I’m eating a full, sweet dessert.

I don’t know - is it just me?

Entering into my second week of my Body for LIFE 12 Week Challenge and I’m feeling very good and encouraged by my 5lb loss, so far. Someone randomly warned me about week two - - but they didn’t elaborate, I’m wondering what that is about?

Anyways, week two brought on more grocery shopping. On my list:
Snacks & Desserts
NoPudge Brownie Mix
Bryers CarbSmart Ice Cream (strawberry for me, vanilla for Chris)
Dannon Light n’ Fit Smoothies

Fruits
Cantaloupe, Strawberries, Blueberries, Raspberries, Pineapple, Blackberries (for fruit salad)
Grapefruits

Veggies
Asparagus, Broccili, Lettuce, Tomatoes, Brussel Sprouts

For Breakfast
Jennio Turkey Sausage
Chive & Cheese Egg Beaters
Malt-O-Meal - Chocolate

For Lunch
Whole Wheat Tortilla wraps (to make wraps with leftover meats from dinner, turkey, chicken, salmon, etc).
CarbSense Whole Wheat Bread, Lite

For Dinners
Salmon Filets
Lean Tenderloin Steaks
Whole roasting chicken
Portobello Mushroom caps - large
Skinless Chicken Breasts

Misc
Grapefruit Juice
Garlic
Low sodium soy sauce
Basil
Low fat cream cheese
Low fat shredded mexican cheese
Low sodium salsa

This week I’m making Asian Chicken with Brown Rice and Broccoli, Salmon Filets with Asparagus, Portobello Mushroom Wraps, Turkey burgers with sweet potatoe fries, Chicken Tacos. I’ll post these recipes later in the week.

My food journal for the today:

8 am - 1 c. nonfat vanilla yogurt with 1 peach flavored protein powder mixed in (total 24g protein), 4 dried Apricot halves, 16 oz H2O

10 am - 1 Light n’ Fit Smoothie, 6 Dried apple slices, 8oz Grapefruit juice

12 pm - 1 portion malt-o-meal w/ splenda and skim milk, 1 c. fruit salad w/ dollup fat free vanilla yogurt, 16 oz H2O

5 pm - Baked Lemon Pepper Salmon Filet, Asparagus, 16 oz Grapefruit Juice

9 pm - 1 c. coffee, 16 oz H20

I’m stuffed!

I ran across this recipe somewhere on the net while searching for recipes for turkey tenderloin. We had it for dinner the other night and it was a hit, definitley on our ‘do again’ list of meals.

1/4 c. lemon juice
1/4 c. green onion, chopped
1 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 tablespoon ground ginger
1/4 tablespoon red pepper flakes
2 tablespoons grated lemon rind
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1/4 tablespoon cracked black pepper

combine the first 6 ingredients ina bowl. Pour it over the turkey tenderloins and marinate 30 minutes - 3 hours.

Combine grated lemon rind, garlic and black pepper - rub over tenderloins. Bake at 340 until meat reaches temp of 170. Take out of oven, let sit for 10 minutes. Serve.

Note: Use any leftover turkey the next day to make turkey wraps for lunch. Mince the turkey, add chopped tomatoes, shredded carrots, minced black olives with a few tablespoons non fat ranch dressing. Put a green lettuce leaf on a whole wheat tortilla - spoon the turkey mixture on top of the lettus - roll up and enjoy!

Love asian foods? This one is a winner:

1/3 cup fresh lime juice
2 clove garlic, crushed
10 g fresh ginger, (2 tsp) finely grated
1 tbs soy sauce
1 tsp chilli sauce
20 g shallots, (2 shallots) ends trimmed, finely sliced
4 small skinless chicken breast
40 g fresh coriander, (2 tbs) chopped
1 medium lime, cut into wedges

Combine the lime juice, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, chilli and shallots in a bowl.Using a mallet pound the chicken breast until flat and an even thickness. Combine the chicken in a bowl with the marinade and refrigerate for 1 hour if possible.

Drain chicken and reserve marinade. Coat a frying pan with cooking spray, heat and cook the chicken on both sides until browned and tender, brushing with the reserved marinade.

Sprinkle with the coriander and serve with lime wedges.

Salmon is a great addition to your healthy diet - good source of protein and soluble fat.

Coat baking dish with nonfat cooking spray.
Place Salmon filets in dish.
Pour 1/4 cup lemon juice over top of salmon
Season with sea salt and fresh ground pepper.
Lay 4-6 lemon slices across top of salmon.

Bake at 350 for until fish is pink and flakey. Put broiler on high and broil for 5 minutes. Remove, and serve.

The one thing I’ve noticed since I’ve been keeping myself on that “several small meals in a day” routine? I’m hungry a lot more often. A lot. Seems it doesn’t take long for a body . . at least my body . . to get used to consuming food every 2-3 waking hours. Couple that with the increase in weight training and aerobic exercise that I’m doing - - my body has become a demanding food vessel.

Feed me, Seymore! (ya had to see the movie)

This morning when I woke up, I was absolutely ravenous! But! I waited and let breakfast with coffee be my morning reward. I washed my face. Brushed my teeth. Grabbed a bottle of water. Set my iPod to the Black Eyed Peas and on the treadmill I went for a full 25 minutes at 2.5mph today. I’d like to work myself up to 3.0mph over the next week, but I decided not to push it. With my new plan of hopping on that treadmill first thing in the morning, I’m assaulting my body enough as it is.

Afterwards, I went upstairs and made myself breakfast. 4 Egg white omlete seasoned with chives, sea salt and fresh ground pepper; 2 low-sodium turkey sausage patties, 1 slice of whole wheat toast with a smear of butter (of the “I Can’t Believe It’s Not” variety) and a sprinke of cinnamon and splenda. I gobbled all of that down with a large ass glass of grapefruit juice and my coffee.

I’m stuffed. But in 2-3 hours? My body will feel like it hasn’t eaten in days.

How is a person supposed to keep up?

It’s been a HIGHLY busy week! That’s my reason for not keeping up with my little diet corner on the web this week - - it doesn’t mean I haven’t been keeping up with my diet efforts, though!

My unofficial weight loss this week is a full 7lbs since the first day. I say ‘unofficial’ because Monday is really my designated day to weigh-in, measure and take those pictures.

Let me just say a word about pictures. I have some friends who put up pictures of their favorite super model - - or a picture of a lady in a bikini with a killer ass for inspiration in their weight loss efforts. I have a friend who has a sexy picture of Shania Twain taped to her treadmill display, to inspire her to get those kind of abs.

For me? I took before pictures of myself on the day I started this diet - - and I take new pictures every week through this process. Putting up those pictures of myself is all the motivation that I need - - especially the picture of me with my back to the camera, if you get what I’m sayin’?

Not saying that I don’t dream of abs like Shania Twain - because I do! But looking at HER perfect body isn’t as motivating to me as looking at my own imperfect body. I can do 25 minutes on the treadmill looking at my own picture and do a run down of all the areas I want to change.

It’s torture, yes. No pain, no gain - as they say.

Chris (my fiance) and I are dieting together. He has done this with me in the past, and I find that he does really well if I’m playing the ‘Diet Nazi’ in the house. I’m constantly reminding him to eat, what to eat, how to eat. If I go get myself a bottle of water - I have to get one for him, otherwise he won’t remember to consume lots of water in a day, etc, etc.

…”Well, babe - I didn’t have any water today because you didn’t bring me any and I didn’t remember“.

So much for self-suffiencieny, eh? I’m happy to do it, though, if it means a healthier us! At first I thought it would make it that much more difficult if I had to watch after my own diet, as well as his. But then I realized that it’s not more difficult at all, and he’s just the type of person who really wants to follow a program, but he’s really busy in his days and if he has someone there (ME!) reminding him and giving him those little nudges - - it helps him a great deal.

If I remind him to exercise - he does it. (I wish the same could be said about keeping the toilet seat down!) I’ll say.. “Hon - did you do the treadmill today?” He’ll say “Hmm.. no” and then he’ll take the 20 minutes to do it.

Of course, it helps that we both home office, and aren’t gone for 8-10 hours a day at work, but rather are right here in our own home where we have all the good food, treadmill and Bowflex machine and we can stop for 20 - 30 minutes for meals or workouts.

I’ve found that it actually helps me, too - - helping him stay focused actually helps me stay focused at the same time. Guess that means I’m dieting for two? So far, he’s lost 5lbs in the first week - - so he’s (I’m?) doing well!

Ever diet with a partner? Did you find it easier? Harder?

We tried these yesterday and they are PHENOMENAL!

1 1/2 tablespoon Olive Oil
1 1/2 garlic cloves, chopped fine
1 1/2 teaspoon chopped basil (fresh is best!)
Salt and Pepper to taste
2 large portobello mushrooms, washed - stems sliced off
1/2 cup non-fat cream cheese
4 large whole wheat tortillas

Mix the olive oil, garlic together in bowl. Brush the mixture on the mushrooms.

Grill mushrooms 3-4 minutes each site (I grilled them on our George Foreman grill). Let cool. Cut into 1 inch strips.

Mix cream cheese, basil, salt and pepper in a bowl. Layout tortillas and spread 2 tablespoons of the cheese mixture on each. Lay a green lettuce leaf over the cheese then lay 3-4 mushroom stips on each. Roll the toritilla and enjoy!

Mondays are my weigh in and measuring day. I’m staying at an even 7lb weight loss, but my inches have decreased quite a bit:

Bust - Loss of 0.5 inches
Rib Cage - Loss of 1 inch
Waist - Loss of 3 inches
Hips - Loss of 1 inch
Butt - No loss here (big shocker)
Upper Thigh - Loss of 0.5 inches
Above the Knee - Loss of 0.5 inches

After two weeks that a net loss of 6.5 inches total, and 7 pounds. Does that seem like a lot of inches compared to the pounds lost? Maybe not, because I am doing weight lifting along with this dieting stuff . . . so the whole muscle weighs more than fat thing could be in play here, I suppose. Either way, I’m encouraged! Week Three - here I come!

Great protein source…without the fat. Try some egg white recipes I found in the Body-for-LIFE mailing list I belong to:

Egg White Poppers

- 1 Plastic ice cube tray
- Enough Egg Whites to fill tray
- Cooking spray

Coat ice cube tray with cooking spray microwave on high for 4 minutes then refrigerate for 1 hour. You can experiment by mixing a small amount of Sugar Free powdered Cool Aid Mix or powdered Jell-O Mix to the Egg Whites to add flavor.

Continue Reading » »

I know how fortunate we are to have our own exercise room in our home. We refer to it as our ‘gym’ - though it’s really a bedroom we’re not using for anything other than storage. So, we cleared it out and stored our storage somewhere else and about 8 months ago, moved in the newest addition to our family - The BowFlex Ultimate 2. We purchased all the attachements and are ready to go.

This beast is part of the reason I lost 20lbs prior to going on our cruise last September. Although, I didn’t use it as much as I wanted to at the time - I’ve rededicated myself to it and use it about 3 times per week.

Just got back from a 30 minute workout on it - and I can feel the burn, baby.

Here is a sampling of my exercise schedule on my Body-for-LIFE plan:

Continue Reading » »

My official weigh-in day is Monday. I normally try to stick to that - particularly because this week I had my period and I was more than happy to stay off the scale!

But, this morning I walked upstairs and was headed to the laundry room to do a load or two. I had to walk through the living room where my 14 year old daughter was on the couch watching TV. I walked through and she said, “Mom! My god - how much weight have you lost?? Because you can SO tell!”

I’ve hit the end of week three and I’ve gotten to the point where people are noticing - that’s so cool I told here that at my last weigh-in I had lost 7lbs, that was last Monday. She said “You’ve lost more by now - because I can really see it.. let’s go weigh you!” So, we did. I let her break my weekly weigh-in policy.

As of today’s unofficial weigh-in, I’m down 11 full pounds from my original weigh-in . . 4 lbs from my last weekly weigh-in. I’m so happy I could just burst - - and if nothing motivates me to stay on this 12-week challenge - THAT kind of progress will do it for sure!

I’m not sure if it’s the nutrition program I’m following - or the new exercise program I’ve been following..or a combo of both (probably). But I’m looking at this as DEFINITE progress and it encourages me to work even harder in week 4!

*happy dance*

This one was such a hit with the entire family - I made it twice in one week. The first time, I used asparagus. The second time, I used broccoli. All good stuff! This recipe fed my family of four - adjust for yourself, as needed.

Tasty Ginger Chicken

4-6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts.
1 1/2 TBS Olive Oil
1 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
2 large portobello mushrooms, thinly sliced (or 4-6 regular mushrooms)
1 chopped green onion
Salt, to taste
Ground pepper, to taste.

Heat a skillet on the stove - add 1 tablespoon olive oil and the ginger. Add in chicken and cook for 4 minutes, stiring them around in the pan constantly, and flipping regularly. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside on a plate.

Put remaining 1/2 tablespoon olive oil in hot pan and add your vegetable (I’ve used asparagus and broccoli for this recipe). Stir fry for 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Then add in mushrooms and onions and stir fry for another 3 minutes - or until mushrooms look well-cooked.

Set burner to a medium-to-low setting and add the chicken back into the pan, on top of the vegetable and mushrooms. Cook for another 5 minutes, or until the chicken is completely done (I test for doneness the tried and true way - - slice open the center and check for raw meat!) Don’t mind the pictures - - I took them during this process and I am the world’s sloppiest cook!

We had this meal with a small side of Ceasar salad with a few slices of romaine tomatoes, and non-fat Ceasar dressing. It’s really good!

The approximate count on this entire meal - chicken, broccoli and side ceasar salad w/ tomatoes and non-fat ceasar dressing - based on Calorie King’s calculations of my meal?

362 Calories
55.9 grams protein
6.2 grams fat
19.2 grams carbs
8.2 grams fiber

I ran across this recipe somewhere on the web and thought it looked easy and yummy! Since then, I’ve prepared this for my family three times and it is ALWAYS a hit! I used to roast chicken in the oven with TONS of butter to make it moist and tasty - - this recipe uses NO butter - and uses lemons, instead, for a nice moist chicken - and it gives it a great flavor, too!

I prepared this once using oranges, instead of lemons - which gave it a really interesting and delicious taste, too.

Preheat oven to 400.

I use an 8lb chicken. (because I have a teenage son, so you can take away an automatic 2lbs right there!) My rule of thumb for baking chicken? 20 minutes per pound - then add another 20 minutes. but I always check the thermometer before calling it done. (checking the breast area of a whole chicken with a meat thermometer - - it’s done when it reaches 175).

Remove the innards completely and wash the chicken inside and out. Let sit in a collander in the sink for about 15 minutes until the bird reaches room temp. Pat it dry.

I use about a cup (or more) of lemon juice. Pour it all over the chicken - inside and out. Then take 3-4 whole lemons.. prick each one 3-4 times with a fork and shove those lemons right up the birds ass. I season with ground sea salt and fresh ground pepper. (you can use garlic juice in with the lemon juice too, if you’re a garlic lover like me!)

Reduce the temp of the oven to 350 and put the bird in a roasting pan. Put it in the oven, breast side down, for an hour. Then flip the bird breast side up and cook for the remaining time until done.

I served the chicken with steamed asparagus and a side of brown rice.

Preparing 8lbs of chicken gave us a LOT of leftover chicken, which we saved and used for whole wheat chicken wraps and whole wheat chicken quasadillas (made with non-fat cheese) for lunches over the next few days.

The approximate nutritional information for this meal, from information contained in the Calorie King Database for the dinner based on 6 oz chicken breast meat, 8 spears asparagus and 1 cup brown rice is:

Calories: 419
Fat: 6.9g
Carbs: 27.9
Fiber: 4.2g
Protein: 58.1g

As I enter week 4 of the challenge - I still find myself motivated and encouraged by my current roll of successes. Today was my official weigh-in day and my progress so far equals a loss of 11lbs and a loss of 8 inches. How could I not be encouraged by that?

When this first started on 12/26 - Chris (my fiance) took pictures of me in my bra and panties. Ugh! We took front shots, side shots and the dreaded shots from behind (cough).

Today - on 1/16 - we took them again. Standing in the same spot, wearing the same clothes. When I put the pictures next to one another - the changes were really dramatic. Amazing what 11lbs and 8 inches can do to a person! It seems most of my loss has come from my waist, hips and back. The “well-fed-rolls” that appeared underneath my bra strap across my back (under my shoulder blades) are now all but gone and there is more defnition in my waist and abs. I’m psyched!

I’ve talked with many around the net about diets - and have resisted the temptation of fad dieting. You know, those diet plans that claim you’ll lose a full dress size in 6 days? Come on - get real. The only way I know of for losing the weight and dropping sizes is the good old ‘eat right and exercise’ plan.

I don’t believe there is a pill that will do it. The only pill I pop into my mouth on a daily basis is a multivitamin. That’s it. I don’t believe there is a drink that will do it. Or a bar, or a patch or anything other than changing the lifestyle habits that got me this way in the first place. I’ve read up on those diets that have you eating the same dollup of food for every meal, every day - never waivering.

My feeling is - - if it’s not a plan that I can stick to for an entire lifetime, then forget it. This is a lifestyle change for me, not a get-thin-quick plan. I’m convinced that healthy eating and a good, moderate exercise plan is the only way for me to go.

So Anna Nicole Smith can take her royalties for TrimSpa and go get another tummy tuck - it ain’t for me!

On the Body-for-LIFE discussion list I belong to - many have cautioned that Weeks 4-6 are slow, you kind of hit a plateau and stagnate without experiencing a whole lot of loss in pounds or inches. I’m prepared for it (I think) - - I swear I won’t let the plateau get me down or discourage me. That’s my goal for the next few weeks, to just keep working at it and looking foward to week 7-8.. keeping my eye on the prize!

Anyone else wake up this morning craving thick buttermilk pancakes? Laden with butter and thick maple syrup? I did - talk about torture!! Arghh!

I resisted the urge, as difficult as it was. I made myself a bowl of hot oatmeal and sprinkled it with cinnamon and splenda, instead - to try and tone down my inflammed sweet tooth.

I’ve done well this week, with the eating. I’ve stayed on my plan and didn’t waiver. Every week that goes by where I can say that is something I consider a huge success on my part. I’m a cookie monster! I can sit and eat an entire bag of hershey’s kisses all by myself, in under 30 minutes flat without blinking an eye!

Body for LIFE does give you a free day in the plan - however, I don’t incorporate a free day at all., not in the diet/menu area at least. Why? Because I know me. If I know that today is my ‘free day’ - I lose it and go all out. Talk about lacking self-control!

Instead - I give myself a treat once a week, as long as I’ve stuck to my plan. That treat?

A triple-grande caramel machiatto from Starbucks. In all it’s 310 calorie goodness - I allow myself to have one, once a week.

Not bad since I used to drink 2-4 of those A DAY! No kidding! Before I leapt into full time self-employment and started home-officing completely, I worked for the last 15 years as a Registered Nurse in the area of Home Hospice care. I spent my days in my car, travelling from one patient’s house to another.. all day long, every day.

And do you know how many Starbuck’s with drive-thru’s I would pass on a daily basis? My territory spanned a 4-county area here in Wisconsin, and I’ll tell ya - that’s a LOT of Starbucks! I was drawn in. Sucked in. Starbucks really had a hold on me.

The lo-down on one triple grande caramel machiatto?

Calories:310
Fat Calories: 110
Total Fat: 12g
Carbs: 37g
Sugars: 34g

Image. 2-4 a day. That would be 10 - 20 in one work week. No WONDER I ballooned! Sheesh!

Now? The drink is the only indulgence I give myself in a week - but that’s only if I know I’ve been really good with my meal and exercise plan. I look forward to it - - and I’ll tell ya - - when I give myself that ONE treat a week? It is the BEST damned triple grande caramel machiatto I have EVER had in my LIFE!

There is probably something healthier that I could treat myself to. I mean, considering the nutritional info on one cup of that caramel goodness . . . I should probably look into it. But, I’m still losing pounds and inches on a healthy, steady roll, so I figure if I can congratulate myself with something I really love - and if that helps me stay focused all week long? Every little bit helps. I treat myself to it on Saturdays. I just make sure that on Sunday, I spend extra time on the treadmill and torture myself there, instead.

It is SO worth it.

I haven’t had much time to update this site at all this week, really. Work has been keeping me hopping and on my toes pretty much the entirety of last week!

Just wanted to check in on my weigh in date and record my progress. It was a slow week - but I did manage to lose 1.5 lbs for a total loss of 12.5lbs so far. I haven’t done my measurements yet - - and I really shouldn’t be putting them off, but I’m going to have to put them off until tomorrow morning.

Would love to put some of this client work load aside - - but can you imagine?.. “I’ll be right with you - - I just have to measure my boobs first!”

Ummm… no.