When there's a will, there's a weigh

I have been faking myself out for awhile now. Every since I canceled my gym membership I have been working out at home. But how do you know what kind of progress you're making if you don't weigh or measure yourself? The answer is.......you don't. I always knew I was getting in workouts, I knew some days I ate great and others I did not. I knew clothes were fitting differently, but honestly I didn't have a number to connect to the journey. I think at times I was glad I didn't. Reason one: because I have a tendency to go scale crazy. Once I get into my "mode" I can weigh myself upwards of 10 times a day! (I know very unhealthy) and Reason two: I was just too damn cheap to buy a new one. Reason three: I was scared of what it would read. Well I'm not saying I wont have the scale crazy moments I had before, but I'm not cheap and I'm not scared

...and that is the number which is my NEW beginning. Am I overjoyed that that's what I weigh? No it's 26.3 pounds lighter than where I began. Am I saddened by that number? No! It's where I pick up the pieces. It's the number I will look at months from now and beam with pleasure seeing how far I've come.

On a super-off topic I had the most fantastic dinner:

3 oz. of BBQ boneless skinless chicken breast, roasted brussel sprouts with parmesan cheese, coconut cashew basmati rice, and acorn squash topped w/ baked cinnamon apple
It might not look that appetizing, but it was delicious!
Lately I've been working six days a week, hopefully I have a chance tomorrow to get in a workout. Take care!

My day late Thursday thought

"Take care of your body. It's the only place you have to live." -Jim Rohn

It's dancing time again!

I must say I was in a a state of sheer bliss all summer watching Oxygen's "Dance Your Ass Off" The Weight Loss Dance Competition. The competition was a fun yet poignant discussion and attempt to make the American public healthy. It has become the inspiration that "The Biggest Loser" was before they began the "insert shameless plug here" game. A lot of people booo'ed the contestants revealing "dancing with the stars" -like outfits, but I thought it was a brilliant idea. Why hide the fat? We all know that's what you're there to lose! Didn't see it? I feel sooo... sorry for you! You missed great performances like this....
and great transformations like.....

that began as.....

Well our friends at Oxygen are starting the audition process for season 2! Wanna be amongst season 2's lucky 12? Log on for details!

Home is where the weight leaves....

I know...that's a pretty weird blog entry title, but you'll get the point in a moment. I spend a large portion of the day outside of my home. Like most of you I have a full-time job. My job makes weight loss just a tad more difficult, but I persevere anyway. I am a manager/server at my local IHOP. I have been there for over 4 years and in that time I have gained seventy pounds. No, you don't have to read that again it said SEVENTY!

Not all of that do I blame on a penchant for pancakes, actually I don't eat pancakes often. I blame it on my lack of home cooked meals. When I started back in the summer of 2005 I had taken the job as a third shift server in addition to two other part-time jobs I had at the time. I worked as a conference server in the morning, a line server at Qdoba Mexican grill at night, and a IHOP server in the wee hours of the night. So how often do you think I was home?? Yep, not much! Therefore breakfast was scrambled eggs, hash browns, bacon, sausage, and the like in the morning and whatever tasty dish they made for lunch at the conference center. A chicken burrito for dinner at Qdoba, and more than likely a burger and fries around 2 am at the HOP (as I have affectionately nicknamed it). I estimate that to be about 2800 calories a day. I walked alot with my mother, but you know what? Walking on my off time w/ my mommy does NOT burn off 2,800 calories a day.

It's virtually impossible to get a good understanding of what's going into your body when you're not preparing it. I honestly didn't have the time to, and wasn't really concerned. Now I couldn't possibly imagine living off of restaurant food. Unless I can watch how it's being made or I have a pre-made plan and know exactly how many calories I am taking in. I live to try new fruits and veggies, and my daily fight with food is something I am determined to win. I know this war begins right in my kitchen, in my cupboards, and in my fridge. And I can not, or better yet will not, put my health in someone else's hands.

Friday's Eats!

I've been trying to work at doing meal pictorials, but I have learned one thing about myself...I'm a hungry little princess and when the hunger strikes...I normally don't wait long enough to say grace, let alone pull out my camera! But I tried really hard and Friday (for the most part) I got it done!

Breakfast: McDonald's Egg McMuffin w/1 packet of strawberry jelly/reserves and apple dippers w/ Caramel Dip

Lunch: Grilled turkey bacon and cheese w/tomatoes, stone ground mustard, and spinach on Ezekiel Bread; Side salad w/ tomatoes, cucumbers, and mixed herb greens with Newmann's Own Light Italian and a small apple

Dinner: ....and under all that spinach is Subway's Black Forest Ham on 9-grain Honey Oat w/ Swiss Cheese and Fat-free Sweet Onion Sauce

Not pictured: The 3 miniature chocolate chip Mrs. Field's cookies I ate at the mall so fast I didn't even realized I devoured them!

Totaling: 1700 calories...not necessarily my best record, but I'm proud of how many veggies I got in there! There is always tomorrow!

another Thursday thought.....

“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”
Buddha quotes (Hindu Prince Gautama Siddharta, the founder of Buddhism, 563-483 B.C.)

CoMinG SoOn!

(ignore the caps issue I was just being....zany!) There are soooo many things I have discovered or Re-discovered online this past week. I am excited about all the new purchases I will be making soon....which leads to......that's right! REVIEWS!!!! Those up and comers are:
HAIR:
Avocado Oil
Aphogee Keratin and Green Tea Restructurizer
ORS No-Lye Olive Oil Relaxer
Healthy Fare
Pumpkin Oats (they look so yummy)
Vita-Tops (preferably the Mint Chocolate Chip ones)
Make-up
L'Oreal HIP Chrome Eyeliners (especially in Blue Spark)
Mac's Shale e/s
Essie nail polishes
Sigma Brushes
MAC's LE Comet Blue Dazzleglass (I will go through hell and high water to get this)
MAC's Bell Bottom Blue (discontinued), Blue Brown, Platinum, Milk (from HK collection) pigments
....and the perfect pink lipstick for my NW50 shade cuz this princess is in LOVE with pink!
Clothing
oh WOW!!! have I been clueless to all the great places a plus size barbie/princess like myself could get hot finds! Wet Seal(online), Faith21 (online-with 3x's coming soon!), Torrid(of course a staple), DebShops (a staple as well, cute clothes, but ehhh quality), Old Navy.com and my new overseas fave.....Dorothy Perkins!!! OMG why am I just knowing about Dorothy Perkins??!! That website is like....heaven!

Can't wait to start w/ these! Until then....stay beautiful ladies!