Morning - Workout for half hour. Burned about 330 calories on the elliptical.

Breakfast - Standard plus one slice John Morrell Hard wood bacon

Lunch - Lean Gourmet Santa Fe Rice and Beans (Yummy!) 1 bowl of Market Pantry Cookie crisps cereal

Afternoon workout - half hour on the elliptical. Burned 335 calories. Have already cleared 64 ounces of water.

Dinner - Zatarain's dirty rice with ground turkey, Gordon's batter dipped fish (1.5 pieces), steamed veggies and a slice of my Kahlua cake (glad it's almost gone) . ;)

Food Item	Servings	Cals
Folgers Classic Roast Instant Coffee 8 oz	1.00	0
Quaker Simple Harvest Maple Brown Sugar With Pecans	1.00	160
John Morrell Hardwood Smoked Bacon	0.50	50
Market Pantry Crispy Cookie Sweetened Multigrain Cereal	1.00	120
Michelina's Lean Gourmet Santa Fe Style Rice & Beans	1.00	330
Zatarain's Dirty Brown Rice	1.00	140
Gordon's Batter Dipped Fish Portions	1.50	255
Wonder Woman's Kahlua Cake	0.59	327
Totals:		1,382

Morning workout - one hour on the elliptical. I burned 653 calories.

Breakfast - Standard (including a slice of John Morrell bacon)

Lunch - Lean Gourmet Swedish Meatballs

Dinner - grilled chicken, angel hair pasta and knorr sauce.

I made a Kahlua cake for neighbors and I had about three or four chocolate chips (yum) and a little swipe of the bowl. I'm going to try not to have a slice, but my house is already smelling like a chocolate heaven. I may have a tiny sliver, if nothing else.

Food Item	Servings	Cals
Folgers Classic Roast Instant Coffee 8 oz	1.00	0
Quaker Simple Harvest Maple Brown Sugar With Pecans	1.00	160
John Morrell Hardwood Smoked Bacon	0.50	50
Michelina's Lean Gourmet Swedish Meatballs	1.00	310
Reese's Peanut Butter Cup	1.00	80
American Beauty Angel Hair (capellini)	1.00	210
Knorr Garlic & Herb	1.00	139
2 Oz Roasted Chicken Breast	1.00	120
Totals:		1,069

I did pretty well, this weekend. Sunday was my splurge day with Taco Bell, big cinny rolls and slurpees as part of the day. I felt good and awful at the same time. The sugar levels were crazy! Its' a new week and it's time to get back to it.

Morning workout - one hour 632 calories burned on the elliptical

Breakfast - Standard (that's what I'm going to call it, now...see previous 7 or 8 entries to know what the "standard" is). L-Carnitine after breakfast.

Lunch - Hubby brought Chinese, so I tabulated this just "off the cuff"; Indian Chicken, spicy chicken, a few pieces of General Tso's chicken and four pot stickers. I'm guessing around 4 or 500 calories for lunch.

Dinner - George Foreman grilled chicken breasts with Zesty Herb marinade, corn on the cob and capellini with Knorr Garlic and Herb sauce. I also had cookie crisps for desert (probably shouldn't have, though).

Food Item	Servings	Cals
Folgers Classic Roast Instant Coffee 8 oz	1.00	0
Quaker Simple Harvest Maple Brown Sugar With Pecans	1.00	160
Indian Chicken	1.00	360
Peking Chef Potstickers	1.00	240
American Beauty Angel Hair (capellini)	1.00	210
Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast	1.00	110
Knorr Garlic & Herb	0.50	70
Corn On The Cob	1.00	155
General Mills Cookie Crisp	1.00	100
Totals:		1,405

Again, just a guesstimate on lunch, since I have no idea how Asian Buffet prepares their Indian chicken, Garlic Chicken and General's chicken. The pot stickers (I have a feeling) aren't as bad as the listing I chose. Guess I'll know when I look at the scale tomorrow. I'm still very sore, but not as sore as yesterday (I was limping, yesterday...killed my inner thighs!)

I'm establishing a new "weigh day" since things have changed so much. Today, I was 169.2, which is a nice change from the standard 171 I have been. It probably would have been less if I hadn't have eaten dinner at 8:00pm last night (the babe was at gymnastics and I wanted us to all eat together). I updated the ticker to the lady running. The other one was just too busy.

Morning workout - The Firm (the first volume with Susan Harris). You don't realize what body parts you haven't worked, till you go back and try this little gem. It totally kicked my butt!! I have no idea how many calories I burned, but I was sweating like a horse. Somebody's going to be sore tomorrow.

Breakfast - Simple Harvest and coffee/1 slice of Sara Lee Delightful wheat toast

Lunch - Lean Gourmet Chicken Alfredo Florentine (Market Pantry cookie crisp cereal)

Dinner - Petite sirloin (the chart says Ruby Tuesday's, but that' only because I know they grill and season theirs, which is what I did to mine), 2 ears of fresh corn (from the guy who sold us our pumpkins...fresh off his farm), the last of the Western Family stuffing.

Hubby was here. We drank Lexia and had ghiradelli chocolates. I'm so happy when he's here. He stayed the night, too.

(Went a bit over today, but that's okay. I'm counting on the muscle training I did to help counteract the damage).

Food Item	Servings	Cals	Fat	Cholest	Sodium	Carbs	Sugars	Fiber	Protein
Folgers Classic Roast Instant Coffee 8 oz	1.00	0	0g	0mg	0mg	0g	0g	0g	0g
Quaker Simple Harvest Maple Brown Sugar With Pecans	1.00	160	4g	0mg	75mg	30g	9g	4g	4g
Lean Gourmet Chicken Alfredo Florentine	1.00	250	7g	40mg	690mg	34g	3g	2g	12g
General Mills Cookie Crisp	1.00	100	1g	0mg	150mg	22g	11g	1g	1g
RUBY TUESDAYS Petite Sirloin	1.00	206	5g	0mg	0mg	2g	0g	0g	0g
Western Family Chicken Stuffing	1.00	170	1g	0mg	430mg	20g	2g	0g	3g
Ear Of Corn, Sweet, Yellow	2.00	246	4g	0mg	42mg	54g	10g	8g	10g
Ghiradelli Dark Chocolate With Caramel Filling	0.50	90	6g	3mg	15mg	11g	8g	1g	1g
Wine, Dessert, Sweet	1.00	47	0g	0mg	3mg	4g	2g	0g	0g
Totals:		1,269	28g	43mg	1,405mg	177g	45g	16g	31g

Morning workout - One hour on the elliptical. Burned 643 calories (only because during my 2nd 20 minutes, I set the tension to level two. I won't do this often because of what it does to my knees. Ouch!)

Breakfast - Simple Harvest oatmeal and Folgers instant coffee with splenda

Lunch - out at Chinese today. I'll do my best. UPDATE: Moo Goo Gai Pan, steamed rice (didn't eat all of it), lo mein (ate very little), miso soup and 32 ounces of water. Three wontons.

Dinner - American Beauty Angel Hair pasta, Prego mushroom sauce, ground turkey, canned mushrooms. About 1.5 servings.

Food Item	Servings	Cals
Folgers Classic Roast Instant Coffee 8 oz	1.00	0
Quaker Simple Harvest Maple Brown Sugar With Pecans	1.00	160
Moo Goo Gai Pan	1.00	217
Plain Steamed White Rice	1.00	184
Wontons, Deep Fried	0.10	56
American Beauty Angel Hair (capellini)	1.50	315
Prego Fresh Mushroom Pasta Sauce	1.00	120
Festive (Jennie-O) Ground Turkey	0.25	43
Totals:		1,094

Morning workout - 60 minutes elliptical trainer (619 calories burned)

Breakfast - Simple Harvest oatmeal 1 cup of folgers instant with Splenda

Morning Snack - Honey bunches of oats with coffeemate

Lunch - Hamburger helper (half serving) one bowl of Market Pantry cookie crisps

Hubby said, "So, you're almost done with work?"

"Yep."

"Then you'll be doing your workout afterward?"

"Well, I did an hour on the elliptical this morning."

"Wow! Then, you'll have to make up a body part tomorrow."

Long pause...

"Well, to be honest, I haven't really been doing my weight training. I've been so despondent, it's all I can do to get up and do the cardio I've been doing."

Another long pause...

"It's no reflection on you, honey. These are all my issues."

"No, I understand."

I hope he does. He's not coming over at all today. Sadness. I pulled out steaks from deep freeze to cook for him. I'll cook them, but probably won't each much. I don't have an appetite when he's not around.

New thingy on my site! A ticker! It's kinda cute, but I may edit that sucker. Me and shoes, I know.

Dinner - Petite sirloin (southwest marinade, George Forman grilled), Pictsweet steamed broccoli, carrots and cauliflower, Western Family stove top stuffing (half the butter recommended).

Food Item	Servings	Cals
Quaker Simple Harvest Maple Brown Sugar With Pecans	1.00	160
Folgers Classic Roast Instant Coffee 8 oz	1.00	0
Honey Bunches Of Oats Honey Bunches Of Oats	1.00	130
General Mills Cookie Crisp	1.00	100
Hamburger Helper Stroganoff	0.75	239
RUBY TUESDAYS Petite Sirloin	1.00	206
Western Family Chicken Stuffing	1.00	170
PictSweet Deluxe Steamers Broccoli Florets, Cauliflower & Carrots	1.00	30
Totals:		1,035

(from Daily Plate)

Morning workout - 1 hour on the Elliptical (626 calories burned)

Breakfast - 1 packet of Simple Harvest, Maple and Brown sugar oatmeal. 1 cup of Instant folgers coffee with Splenda.

Lunch - Lean Gourmet Enchilada bake, Oscar Mayer Singles Deli Fresh Turkey Breast (shaved)

Dinner - Stroganoff Hamburger helper (with Honesuckle ground turkey instead of ground beef), 1 bowl of Market Pantry (Target brand) Cookie crisps. Yum!

night cap - 1 shot of light rum with sprite zero and about four maraschino cherries.

Morning workout - Elliptical trainer 30 minutes (311 calories burned)

Breakfast - 1 cup instant folgers coffee with splenda, 1 packet of Quaker Simple harvest maple and brown sugar

morning snack - 1 bowl of honey bunches of oats with a tad bit of coffeemate (this is what I use instead of milk).

Lunch - Sara Lee Delightful wheat bread, turkey, light mayo and a small bowl of generic cookie crisps

So, dinner screwed up the day (hubby was home and we all ate fast food). I had one double cheeseburger, one chicken wrap a few fries and an apple pie. Yikes! Terrible...just terrible. Tonight was the last night of the detox and I've succeeded in adding all the toxins back in just one night. Oy! (It was good to have hubby here most of the day, though) Never got in my second workout.

Morning workout - 30 minutes on the ellpitical (I was so sore this morning, I got a late start...which meant I also couldn't do a full hour. Damn that TOM!). 315 calories burned.

Breakfast - 1 cup of instant folgers coffee (didn't sleep well again last night. Didn't go to sleep until close to midnight), 1 packet of Quaker simple harvest maple brown sugar oatmeal. Detox pills and packet.

Afternoon workout - Elliptical for another 30 minutes. Burned another 315 calories

Went to take the babe to a friend's house. Had three glasses of Pinot Grigio (how did that happen?) and about three slices of pizza. I left around 9ish, but I did attempt to call my hubby several times. He didn't answer. I think he is avoiding me and I'm very sad about it. At least the babe gets to have fun at a friend's house tonight.

Morning workout - 60 minutes on the Elliptical (625 calories)

Breakfast - one packet of Cinnamon and Spice Quaker oatmeal and a cup of instant Folgers coffee.

Lunch out with my coworkers - I had Pad Pra Ram; steamed/stir-fried veggies (broccoli, onions, carrots, squash, mushrooms) peanut sauce, chopped peanuts, steamed white rice and side salad. Water to drink.

For dinner - Dinner out with the girls: Winger's Southwest wrap with a side of steak fries. I also had a tall glass of strawberry lemonade. This was a calorie laden meal, but I did well earlier in the day. Hopefully, it won't cause too much damage.

I only drank around 50 ounces of water (not good) and I didn't take an L-Carnitine. I'm still doing the detox, though.

I started the 7 day Detox yesterday to try and get this thing going. I was up at 3:40 am this morning (who the heck knows why). I also didn't sleep well again. Hopefully, hubby got the sleep last night that I didn't. The babe is under duress...missing her daddy terribly.

Morning workout - 60 minutes on Elliptical trainer (623 calories)

Breakfast - 1 homestyle waffle with light syrup, 3/4 cup of chicken stir fry.

Snack - Fiber One bar (I know I'm going to regret this later)

Lunch - Stir fried chicken and veggies with Satay sauce (I've already had 64 ounces of water. I'm getting through it a lot faster, now).

I didn't do my weight training today, because my mental state has just been bad. Hubby came over to do the yard and pick up a few more things. After we hugged goodbye, I died a little inside. It was all I could do to get through the rest of the evening without breaking down in front of my kids.

Dinner - the rest of the stir fry, Satay sauce and a bowl of cereal.

Morning Workout - Elliptical trainer 60 minutes (628 calories burned. I find going forward first, then going backward for the last half burns many more calories).

Breakfast - Instant Folgers coffee with splenda; 1.5 packets of Quaker Cinnamon and Spice oatmeal

Lunch - I was supposed to go to a Chinese Restaurant for lunch, but it was moved to next Thursday. Thank goodness I thought to bring mine from home just in case. :) Mixed stir fried veggies (broccoli, mushrooms, water chestnuts) and cubed chicken breasts with satay sauce (2 tsp.) with Jasmine rice (about 1/2 cup).

Snack - small bowl of honey bunches of oats

Dinner - One "State Fair" corn dog, 4 potstickers and a small bowl of cereal. I could have had my chicken, but wanted something quick (as it was 8:45pm when I ate...I know. Very far after 7:00pm. I will get better). This will be my second night without hubby. I did not sleep well last night (he says he didn't sleep at all).

Morning Workout - 60 minutes Elliptical trainer (610 calories, no resistance)

Breakfast - 1 bowl (1 cup) fiber one cereal with coffemate. One cup of Folgers Instant with two teaspoons of splenda. (not much, I know. This turns out to be around 350 calories, 2 grams of fat, 82 carbs and 5 grams of protein)

Lunch - Budget Gourmet Spicy szchewan style noodles and veggies, 4 slices of Healthy ones deli-slice honey ham)




Goal Restructure:

So, back in April of this year (gosh, nearly 1/2 a year ago? Really?!), I'd hit a new goal and was elated! Vacation time helped in thwarting my progress back about eleven pounds, so now it's time to reset and get serious. Hubby's training has been helpful, but I need to get organized with me eating my way. The original goals would have been great to meet during the summer months (which were my plans). My perfume, which I've started wearing, is as lovely as I remember. Unfortunately, I bought the spray cologne, which seems to send my sinuses into overdrive. Next time, I'll be sure to order the perfume sans atomizer. The Mariposa store is going out of business, so I may pick up an item or two for the future. Which size should I buy? An eight, a six, a four? Wow! Too hopeful, I think. We'll see what they have left (I may shoot over there today after work to see what's around).

So, the goal by December? Thirty pounds. How will I do this? Limited calories during the weekdays, with one splurge day per week. If the splurge is picked during the middle of the week, no splurging on the weekend. I have a dinner this week with friends and my plan is to "keep it cool" even then. No eating after 7:00pm. That seems to do a world of good for me. Wine is okay any day of the week now (rather than just the weekends...I have a feeling I'm going to need it). Hard liquor is restricted to the weekends (if Amaretto is considered hard). Fat count around 30 to 40 grams per day. Carbs? No more than 170 (I'm still weight training, so I need them). Still drinking my gallon of water, which is great! That's a pat on the back that I can carry on through this new plan. I'm really proud of myself in this regard.

So with no further delay:

Starting weight now: 172 (weeks of work and no change from this blasted number...f.r.u.s.t.r.a.t.i.n.g)

• 5lbs (167) - Buy a movie from wish list (that's been on there for ages!)
• 10lbs (162)- Physician's Formula Lip glass (I love this stuff! It never seems to wear off...you get what you pay for)
• 15lbs (157)- New shoes! (Mary Jane's I'm still after...not necessarily the ones pictured here).
  
• 20lbs (152) - Lower Back Attack Massage and a Custom Facial
• 25lbs (147) - Hair Braided
  
• 30lbs (142) - Trip out of town (buy a new outfit to wear "there" in my new size) I would go to Vegas, but it's just too much to handle by myself.
  

Morning workout - 60 minutes (625 calories on the Elliptical trainer)

Breakfast - a John's Breakfast from Sills Cafe (includes a big-ass pancake and three slices of bacon) 16 ounces of OJ. I was in the mood for a real breakfast this morning. :)

Morning workout - 45 minutes (got to go to work early today, so couldn't workout the entire sixty minutes. I'll do a fifteen or twenty minute stint later).

Breakfast - 2 scrambled eggs, 2 thin slices of bacon and 1 slice whole wheat toast from Skool Lunch
(1 L-Carnitine 500 mg)

Mid morning snack - George Foreman grilled chicken breast (Southwest McCormick Marinade), mixed steamed veggies (Bird's Eye), Zatarain's Spanish rice (1/2 serving). 1/2 serving jiffy cornbread muffin.

Lunch - Kroger thin spaghetti (half serving), Prego Fresh Mushroom sauce (1/2 serving) with ground turkey, mixed veggies.

For dinner, 4 Tyson Southern Chicken Tenderloins and a big piece of cake. I had two Dove promises with hubby and a glass of Alice White Lexia. He stayed home again. My sadness was temporarily arrested...not sure for how long, though).

Morning workout - 60 minutes on the elliptical (I think I like having it all done at the start of the day, rather than splitting it up. We'll see how this goes. I've also taking to L-CArnitine again (this is day three) 500 mg. Burned 625 calories (no incline...my knees are screaming again).

Breakfast - Quaker Simple harvest oatmeal, Sara Lee Delightful bread (two slices) and 1 tbsp peanut butter for protein.

Lunch - Thin Kroger Spaghetti with meat sauce; one slice of fudge marble cake

Weight training (legs and a bit of back)

Dinner - George Foreman grilled chicken breast in McCormick Southwest marinade, Zatarain's Spanish rice with stewed tomatoes, a big-ass slice of marble fudge cake. (a ghiradelli dark chocolate with caramel right before bed with hubby). He stayed again last night. I think that was the last night. I'm very sad.

Morning Workout (doubled up again) - 60 minutes, 670 calories burned

Breakfast - Quaker Simple Harvest Hot Cereal (Maple Brown sugar)

Morning Snack - Quaker chewy raisin granola Bar

Lunch - Baked wild Alaskan salmon, turnip greens and a small jiffy cornbread muffin

(6 peanut M&Ms)

For dinner - Kroger thin spaghetti, Prego fresh mushroom pasta sauce, sauteed fresh mushrooms, and ground turkey. I made a Duncan Hines Fudge Marble cake with Pillsbury milk chocolate whipped icing. I had one slice of said cake that I shared with hubby. Later in the evening (when I bought the fourth installment of the Twilight Series, Breaking Dawn, I picked up a gigantic pretzel...strange because I wasn't even hungry). It was good!

Hubby gave me a 100 calorie Hershey Dark chocolate bar before bed. I think TOM is on the way (And I'm feeling extra bitchy).

Morning workout - 50 minutes (628 calories burned) Elliptical trainer

Breakfast - Natural Harvest (fru fru oatmeal that I've been eating from Quaker) Maple and Brown sugar

Mid morning snack - 1 slice of my homemade pepperoni and mushroom pizza

Lunch - Baked Salmon, Turnip greens (courtesy of my mother) and one pancake (needed a carb)

Weight trained on back and triceps with hubby (about 20 minutes with a five minute warm-up). Dinner consisted of asian dumplings and tyson honey bbq chicken tenders (1 small jiffy corn-bread muffin). For a night cap, hubby and I had a glass of $2 Chuck Chardonnay and 2 Dove dark chocolate promises. His move date has been moved to Wednesday. We're both having all sorts of issues (but the passion hasn't died...I think it might have increased). What's up with that?

Morning workout - Started out on the treadmill, then it started seizing up and acting crazy (after about 7 minutes at 3.8mph). I got off before it killed me and finished up on the elliptical for 20 more minutes (255 calories on the elliptical...about fifty on the treadmill)

Breakfast - Golden grahams cereal and two slices of oscar mayer turkey

Mid-morning snack - 1 slice of my homemade turkey sausage pizza

Lunch - another sandwich (like yesterday's) and some Stacks.

Morning Workout - 30 minutes treadmill (188 calories burned)

Breakfast - Quaker raisin oatmeal bar and 14 almonds

Lunch - Zatarain's Jambalaya with Turkey sausage

Afternoon meal - Zatarain's Jambalaya with Turkey sausage

Evening workout (elliptical) - 30 minutes 400 and some odd calories (I can't remember exactly, but I was booking!)

Dinner - Sara Lee Honey wheat, low carb bread, low-fat mayo, Oscar mayer turkey slices (2), 1 slice Cache Valley American cheese and a few Lay's Stacks (Salt and Vinegar) for dinner

1 glass of Alice White Lexia before bed and a ghiradelli chocolate caramel...yum!

Morning workout - 30 minutes on the elliptical (378 calories burned) Oh, and I'm 2 pounds up from last week. Is it water? (171.4) Why am I not loosing anymore?!

Breakfast - 1 packet natural hot cereal (maple brown sugar); 14 almonds
herbal tea

Asian noodles with veggies and chicken
1 small bowl of honey bunches of oats

Warm-up five minutes - Elliptical (around 50 calories burned)

Weight training (leg day...ugh!)

Elliptical 30 minutes (424 calories burned...3 resistance today)

1 serving Zatarains Jambalaya, 2 slices of homemade turkey sausage pizza, 2 bowls of Golden Grahams (yum!) 1 Black cherry Fresca

Morning Workout - Treadmill 30 minutes (188 calories burned)

Breakfast - Quaker Hot Cereal (the natural stuff. I can't ever remember the name); maple brown sugar and herbal tea.

Morning Snack - Herb marinated chicken breast, 1/2 serving Kraft mac (low-fat preparation).

Lunch - Herb marinated chicken breast 1/2 serving Kraft mac (low-fat preparation...the last of it). I don't think I'll make three boxes at once again. I thought we'd never finish this stuff.

No evening workout, and I felt guilty. I was helping with oodles of homework and cooking. I could have worked out while the girls were eating but honestly, I was just exhausted.

I made Asian noodles with 1 pound of diced chicken for dinner (I also baked three pounds of chicken in Spicy Caribbean marinade for tomorrow's lunches). I had one serving and a small bowl of Honey bunches of oats. Hubby shared Ghiradelli Chocolate caramels with me as well (before and after our argument and night of passion...in that order).

1 gallon of water as well, today.

Over the weekend, I was off to myself in the mountains. Before you get any ideas, I was in a hotel (not on some desolate camp ground with a can of beans and beef jerky). I ate pretty much what I wanted, but I didn't go too overboard. On Saturday afternoon, I had pretzel bites from the pretzel factory and tofu lo mein from my favorite Vietnamese place for dinner. I received a free appetizer (crab wontons) drank a coke zero, a Jack Daniels Downhome punch and a caramello for desert. I was completely stuffed!

Yesterday, I had a Pancake combo meal from IHOP that I totally didn't finish (so unlike me) and Pad Thai for lunch. I didn't eat dinner, but had a nice glass of wine instead (Alice White Lexia).

Here's today's journal entry:

Morning workout - 30 minutes treadimll at 3.7 mph (190 calories...I'm working harder)

Breakfast, chicken (Fried...I know, but good protein) with hot sauce, mixed veggies and 1 Pillsbury biscuit (100 calories and 4 fat grams for the pastry).

Lunch: Kraft mac (low-fat preparation), Hillshire farm Chicken slices, light mayo and a toasted bun. Plain cheerios afterwards

Afternoon workout - 5 minute warm-up on elliptical (around 50 calories burned), weight training, 30 minute elliptical workout (372 calories burned)

Dinner - Baked herb marinated chicken breast, mixed veggies (peas, carrots and corn), Rice-a-Roni (low-fate prepared version), Honey bunches of oats for dessert. Herbal tea

1 gallon of water today. Only peed about three times (I'm retaining again. Ugh!)

1 ghiradellli chocolate caramel square with hubby.

Morning workout - 30 minutes elliptical trainer (376 calories burned)

Quaker hot cereal (the natural stuff, can't think of the name) Maple and brown sugar
14 almonds

1 cup herbal tea

Morning snack - George Foreman grilled chicken breast (1/2) in ginger teriyaki seasoning, Kraft mac and cheese (low-fat preparation), Mixed veggies.

Lunch - Half Manwich (made with lean ground turkey), mixed veggies and bowl of honey nut cheerios.

Morning workout - Treadmill (185 calories at 3.7 mph) 30 minutes

Breakfast - Quaker oatmeal and raisin bar with 12 almonds

Morning snack - 1/2 George Foreman grilled chicken breast with Ginger Teryaki seasoning, Steamed asian veggies (snap peas, water chestnuts, mushrooms, carrots, peas and onions), Kraft Mac and cheese (low-fat preparation)

Lunch - half chicken cordon bleu leftovers from Apple Spice Junction, wild rice, teeny-tiny salad with raspberry vinagrette and a chocolate chip cookie.

Workout (PM) - 30 minutes on the elliptical (burned 382 calories and an incline of 2)
Drank my gallon of water

Dinner will be Manwhich sloppy joes with lean ground turkey instead of beef. Haven't determined a side yet. Will add it here tomorrow.

Still blue about my impending separation. Talked to a friend today who left her husband because he was doing the drinking and drugs (cocaine...heavy stuff). They can't really talk to each other and, he blames the whole break-up on her. She's really hurt and betrayed, so I suppose I should be grateful. I may need her as a shoulder when this is all said and done. Too bad she moved to Arizona to be closer to her family. I wish she were still here (despite her divorce).

I'm still around, but my life is a shambles. I'm in the midst of a separation from my hubby and it was totally not what I thought my September would be for 2008. He's still training me through all this madness and I've not deviated too much for my eating plan (even though I'm not documenting like I was). I've been interviewing and in the midst of crazy work stuff, so blogging has been put on hold. I'll try to keep a better tab on this site, however.

Through the turmoil, I did have a lost. Not sure if it was the water weight disappearing once TOM left or my lack of appetite due to depression. Whatever it is, I'm back in the 160s (at least, for now). {169.4}

AM Work out - Treadmill 30 minutes (184 calories burned)

Breakfast - Quaker Simple Harvest Multi-grain Hot cereal (Maple Brown Sugar), almonds

Herbal tea

George Foreman grilled chicken breast with southwest marinade, corn and bean medley and Tostito crumbs (end of the bag)

Afternoon workout - 10 minute warm up (100 or so calories burned), weight training "Leg" day, then 30 minutes cardio (elliptical). Calories burned? 371

Dinner - George Foreman grilled chicken breast with southwest marinade, Kraft mac and cheese (low-fat preparation and about two servings) 1/2 glass Peach, Beachaven wine (I needed it, after the day I had). Two Harry and David Chocolate covered cherries. (I needed these too!)

Oh! And one gallon of water. I have kept pretty consistent with the water drinking for the past week.

TOM is here. Ugh! I look like I'm about three months preggers. The weight is still the same, too. (I gotta stop looking at that scale. I was doing well at only looking at it once a week, but I've become week).

Morning Workout - Treadmill 30 minutes (184 calories burned) 3.5 mph

Breakfast - Tofu with peanut sauce (low-fat coconut milk), baked beans
1 cup of herbal tea

Morning Snack -Baked halibut and Asian noodles with veggies and shrimp

Workout AM - over slept, which means I'll have to be on the Elliptical for 60 minutes this afternoon, rather than 30 (my day off...ha!)

Breakfast - Baked herb chicken, corn on the cob and my "famous" pasta salad (yum!)
1 cup herbal tea

Lunch - Tofu, Peanut sauce with low-fat coconut milk, Asian pictsweet veggies and brown rice

Afternoon snack - grilled salmon and 1 full ear (corn on the cob)

60 minutes on Elliptical - 640 calories

Dinner: Halibut (baked) and Asian noodles with veggies and shrimp

Weight Watchers Strawberry Shortcake (1 Ghiradelli chocolate square/Citrus)

Ugh! It was weigh day and nothing changed {172.4}. I feel like I'm training for a marathon, but there was no loss to be found. What gives?! I do feel better and I suppose that should make me feel better. Huh! Not so much. I really need to see the numbers moving, you know what I mean? I suppose it could be the thirty pounds of water I feel like I'm carrying. Do you know, I drank nearly a gallon of water yesterday and only peed three times? Yeah...something's up. Anyway, for what it's worth (and if I care several weeks from now), here's what happened today:

Morning Workout - 30 minutes on the treadmill at 3.5 mph (a measly 183 calories burned...this is why I avoid the treadmill)

Breakfast - Instant brown rice, Asian pictsweet veggies, tofu and peanut sauce (with low-fat coconut milk)
1 cup of herbal tea

Lunch - Salmon, corn on the cobs and baked beans

Almonds (around 20)

Dinner - 1 grilled turkey dog (no bun or condiments), sun chips, baked beans, Tostios bean and cheese dip

Today, I drank the entire gallon of water. Phew! I lived in the bathroom.

I worked out over the weekend and ate fairly well, but didn't document. I will get better about documenting weekend activities (but it certainly wasn't at the forefront of my mind during the holidays). Here's what's happening today:

Morning Workout - 30 minutes Elliptical (363 calories)

1 cup tea (1 8 ounce glass of water).

Breakfast - Small piece of herb and garlic grilled chicken, 1/2 ear corn and brown rice (with a bit of soy sauce for flavor...couldn't find the salt).

drank some water

lunch - Grilled salmon, 1/2 ear of corn, brown rice (with a bit of soy sauce). I'm feeling kind of poorly. Wonder if being out in the rainstorm this weekend has me coming down with something. My nose is twitching and my eyes are burning a bit. We'll see.

9/3/08 update =

Got home and took my temperature. I was running a slight fever (99) and felt a little achy. I pushed past this and helped the Babe with her homework. After which, I hopped on the elliptical fr 45 minutes (478 calories burned). Before this, I had the following:

at home snack: Asian, pictsweet veggies, baked beans 3 bites of herb baked chicken

Dinner - brown rice, tofu, Asian pictsweet veggies, peanut sauce (made with low-fat coconut milk), 1 Lynn Wilson, thin-styled tortilla. One Ghiradelli Intense Dark Citrus Sunset (60% Cacao). One Godiva Chocoiste, 72% dark chocolate with almonds (I know, naughty, naughty! Talk to the PMS, 'kay?)

Morning workout - Elliptical (360 calories)

Breakfast - 6 egg whites, 1 Kashi TLC Peanut Butter bar

Morning Snack - 1 can of tuna (drained) with one egg white, 1 teaspoon of light mayo, salt, & paprika. One half serving of Tostitos white corn chips (about three...sad, but true)

Lunch - Sandwich with Home Pride Butter Top bread, 1 tablespoon of light mayo, 1/3 vine tomato slices, 3 slices avocado, 2 romaine lettuce leaves and 2 servings of Kroger Deli Style Honey Ham

Weight training (Back and Biceps); warm-up elliptical - 150 calories, weights then elliptical, 124 calories.

Even though it's only been a week, food is no longer a pleasurable experience. It's really sad to me that I now dread eating. My choices so limited and so boring, I've started wondering, why bother? Hopefully, this will pass. I've had several cups of tea and lots of water. Will, undoubtedly surpass 64 ounces again.

Here it is:

Work out (AM) - Elliptical trainer (371 calories)

Breakfast - Snuck 5 Peanut M&Ms (naughty!), tuna in water (drained with one egg white, 1 tablespoon of light mayo, salt, and paprika. Also drained canned corn and canned chili beans, rinsed and had a serving with breakfast.

Morning Snack - Chicken of the Sea, Salmon Steak in honey BBQ sauce, mixed corn and chili beans

Lunch - chicken of the Sea, Salmon steak in honey BBQ sauce, mixed corn and chili beans. One small grapefruit with splenda

Dinner - Baked chicken breast with lemon and herb seasoning, Whole Grain Brown Minute Rice (1/2 serving) and (1/2 serving) pictsweet steamer vegetables

1 square Ghiradelli Intense Dark Citrus Sunset (60% Cacao)

Evening walk around the neighborhood after dinner (over 64 ounces of water today)

I'm going to have to keep up with this a bit better because Daily Plate can't separate workouts (damned if I can remember how much time I spent on Day X doing whatever). Here's what happened today:

Work out = 30 minutes (around 6ish this morning) 355 calories

Breakfast -
6 Egg Whites
1 Kashi Trail Mix bar

Morning Snack -
Chicken of the Sea BBQ Salmon Steak
Bean and corn "salad" mix

Lunch -

Hillshire Farms Deli Select Mesquite Smoked Turkey 12 slices
1 packet Great Valu Instant Grits

Afternoon Snack-

1/2 cup seasoned ground turkey
12 almonds

Work out/training with hubby -
15 minute warm-up Elliptical = 190 calories
Leg Day (squats, squats, squats)
10 minute Elliptical = 103 calories

(Haven't had dinner yet, I'll enter it later today or tomorrow).

8.28 Here's Dinner

Turkey/ham sandwhich with Deli Select Ham and turkey on Home Pride Butter Top wheat bread, a bit of dill pickle and light mayo. Tostitos white corn tortillas (1.5 servings), 2 tablespoons of Tostitos Zesty Bean & Cheese dip (medium). For dessert? One Skinny Cows sundae cone.

I started the new diet today and, after lunch, I was still hungry. Now that I've had my afternoon snack, I'm doing all right. Here's what I had:

Breakfast:
1 medium California plum
5 Egg whites (small amount of salt and pepper)
2 cups decaf with Splenda

Lunch:

1 oz Baked chicken (slightly seasoned)
1/2 serving "low fat prepared" Pasta Roni (herb and garlic

Afternoon Snack:
(same as Lunch)

I know that dinner will consist of more chicken, but I'm thinking I'll pick up some low-fat coconut milk, Thai Peanut sauce and brown rice to make my fav meal. With the chicken, I think hubby won't have any complaints.

I worked out on the elliptical for 30 minutes and burned around 320 calories (nearly 100 less than what I normally burn because I took down the tension, but about the same as what I used to burn on the old machine). The tension has caused some trouble with my knees, so I think I'll have to let that be for a while. No one wants screaming knees. Hubby says we'll start the weight training program he's given me on Friday. We performed a run through yesterday and it's probably going to kick my butt. I suppose I'm ready (oh well, if I'm not).

Because of birthday party madness (see the other site), we didn't get going on the training as planned a few weeks ago. I was keeping up with my cardio and had managed to skim off three pounds. Now that I'm filled with birthday cake (I haven't checked but), I believe that three pounds is back. Hubby emailed the training plan along with the meal plan I'll be on. It looks suspiciously like those I've seen for figure competitors. Hmm. Wonder if he's been reading the blog again. I would say yes (are you there, honey?).

The babe is sick, my coworker is quitting and my rag is coming. Needless to say, the stress level is way high. Despite these and other stresses in my life, I've managed to watch my food and exercise for the past two days with a fervor I haven't had in about three months. I'm determined to get these pesky extras off again. The hard part is going to come when my girlfriend gets here next week. We have a tendency to overindulge. I think that I'll "get" myself with extra workouts whenever we overdue it, just so I'm staying with the program.

Hubby is threatening to train me again (starting next week). Not sure how serious he is, but it's never a fun process. Don't get me wrong, he's good at what he does, but the wife-husband dynamic always brings up a power issue for me. The first time he trained me, I looked really good (I wasn't as small as I would have liked, but I looked great) and felt good. I suppose that's all that I really should expect, right? Not be a size four like my mother (she walks 5 miles on the treadmill at a 4.5 clip every other day). It takes her approximately ninety minutes. I seriously don't have that kind of time, but I suppose I would be down with it if I did. Nah. The fact that I probably burn more than half of what she burns in thirty minutes on the elliptical is enough to keep me from her kind of torture.

So, there it is. Me trying to get svelte again. My arms are flabby (first indication that I've put on weight) and they're already football player size. Something must be done.

Eight pounds. Where did they come from? Well, In 'N Out, Lucky Buffet, Wendy's McDonald's, Papa Murphy's, Kasbah Grill, Chinese Gourmet (just to name a few). Notice a common denominator, besides the fact that they're all fast food/restaurants? Salt. I've been loving the salt, which is a little out of the ordinary for me. Usually, I'm sucking down the sugar. Either way, it's not good and I'm packing it back on, slowly but surely.

Another problem? I'm not drinking nearly enough water (now, how is it I can suck it down with no problem in the winter, but when it's 100 degrees, I'm not getting enough...I'm such a weirdo). Despite the bad eating habits, I'm still working out very regularly. The weight training is on hold, but the cardio is in full effect. I'm making the most out of my new, elliptical trainer. It's awesome! I can actually adjust the tension and the burn is most definitely there. I think that must be why people keep saying, "You look great!". Could I indeed be putting on muscle mass? I gotta get myself together and quick. Can't wear my lovely new perfume till I see the 150's again. Will I? Gosh, I hope so (and soon). This can't continue or I won't be able to wear anything in a couple of weeks!

I've gotten off those pesky pounds I picked up during our Washington adventure. I'm down to that blasted 162 that always wants to hang on for life. I'm hoping that by next Sunday, the weight will have shifted again...I hope, for the lower and better.

The new for me? Being consistent. I have a tendency to change things up too soon, so now I'm trying to do the regular schedule, for at least a few weeks, and see where that gets me. Last Friday, I tried a H.I.I.T session on the elliptical trainer. I warmed up for five minutes, performed a rest and H.I.I.T for thirty seconds each, four times. Next week, I'll move up to five and the week after, six. Every other day, I'm being consistent about my weight training. It also means I'm sore most of the week. My inner thighs are talking to me right now. Yesterday, my abs were singing. The day before, my thighs.

I tried the Firm Classic #5 for the first time, yesterday. I'm familiar with the instructor because of the Firm Parts - Standing Legs video I have. She is one of the instructors. I think #5 is a great toning video, but I'm not sure it will be one I use in my heavy rotation. The weight emphasis isn't as prevalent in this as it is in other videos I have.

Since our trip to Washington, I can't seem to get my act together. Part of it is the cooking. I have to get back into the swing of cooking on a regular basis. The way to do that is to get more sleep (we seem to be getting to bed later and later, which means less sleep at night, which means a lot more tired in the mornings). Hubby has been bringing Isagen.ix home and I've decided to really take a look at the material and, perhaps, give it a go as a cleanser. Maybe my plumbing is gunky and needs some help. Maybe I can "Jump start My Heart" into action again.

Last night, we did the "quick fix" and picked up Wendy's for dinner. Although I didn't go incredibly over board, we ate much later than usual (around 8:30pm). We've been eating later and that definitely will thwart any kind of progress. The weight is creeping back on and I'm not happy about it. To try and help myself from last nights damage, I worked out on the elliptical for 74 minutes which totaled 1000 calories burned. I was thinking I might go at it again (if time permits) but, we'll have to see. The babe has dance class tonight so my time is sort of all over the place.

Meanwhile, I still have my goal insight. As I said, I'm going to research Isageni.x and then I'm going to work hard at getting my eating back under control, along with my sleep. I'm going to restrict my alcohol intake to the weekends too (nightly cocktails are not helpful to the process). It's all about eating clean again. Fish, chicken, oatmeal, egg whites...bring it on!

I'm always very aware of when my cravings start before TOM (approximately two weeks), but I still cave into them. Yesterday, anything I could get into my mouth was my mode for the day...let me qualify this - anything salty or sweet. Of course, I paid for the damage with the unfriendly number on the scale, but I'm doing much better today. I have to remember to use my *help* on those days to help stave off cravings. My workouts haven't stopped (thank goodness, because this is also the time when I say, "I need a rest day," or some such garbage). I've kept it up. I almost didn't this morning, until I remembered that I wouldn't get a work out in tomorrow.

I mentioned a few posts ago that I wanted to keep track of my dietary stuff on here again too, but that hasn't been consistent. I'm going to continue to try. I look back on posts and it's good to see what I was eating and doing and what worked the best. So far, I can say that eating buckets of salt and sugar does not work. Working out consistently and eating "clean" works very well. I haven't been cooking as much and I can definitely tell the difference in my weight loss. It has slowed down and I know it won't pick again until I'm grilling chicken, steaming brown rice and veggies, and drinking my water and tea regularly again.

I am excited about my trip this weekend. I know there will be lots of splurging, but I will temper the splurging with wisdom. It's supposed to be quite cold there and I know that automatically makes me want to scarf down the comfort foods.

Well, for an anniversary day present, the 159.2 on the scale was probably the best gift I've gotten in a long time. So, I'm officially in the 150's and approaching the college weight. I can't believe it! Hubby and I spent yesterday splurging, so I'm sure the 150's are a distant memory today, but I hope that I'll have them back in a couple of days (at least by the next weigh day). I will order my perfume though (it's a goal weight, after all).

My hope is to be a couple pounds down for my trip to Washington, next week. I don't know if I can do it but I'm sure going to put my best foot forward. I'm also planning on watching the figure video whenever I need some motivation (I finally got that sucker burned to disc...next, I'll add it to YouTube).

To read more about my anniversary adventures yesterday, check out the other blog.

Yesterday, my nifty 20% coupon arrived from Bed, Bath and Beyond and I was thrilled. I could buy my scale and begin my tracking again. Hubby was training away from the office, yesterday and ended up at one of his favorite bargain-basement stores. He purchased a Thinner scale (like the one shown here) for $18, they normally retail for about forty. Talk about irony! It's the exact same scale I would have purchased and even with my coupon, I wouldn't have gotten it for the price he did (he wins again).

So, this morning, I set up my profile and weighed myself...dreading the worse. When the scale flashed 160.8 and then scrolled through the many other numbers it calculates, I couldn't believe it! After all the splurging and craziness I've been through, I've managed to maintain my weight. Of course, I have been keeping up with my workouts and I have to believe that's what's made the difference. I just wonder if now that I'm back on track, I'll begin to see losses again. I sure hope so. I changed my computation on The Daily Plate to record me as a mildly active person, rather than sedentary. I don't think I qualify as a sedentary person anymore.

So, here's what I got for today:

50 minute workout on elliptical trainer
1 L-Carnitine (& help)
1 pancake (no butter)
1/8 cup serving of Country kitchen syrup
Tofu
1 cup of decaffeinated tea

Yesterday's dinner consisted of 1/2 mesquite grilled chicken breast
hash browns with light ketchup
2 slices of whole wheat toast with light jelly (these were leftovers from Sunday breakfast)
the last 1/3 of my small, choco cherry blizzard

Hubby and I went up to Park City with the girls this past weekend. I ate a very good breakfast (Jimmy Dean Delight sandwhich and small bowl of Fiber One cereal) and then we traveled up the canyon to the ski resort town for shopping. We were on the hunt for gymnastics and dance gear for the oldest. We found it and a whole lot more.

By the time lunch rolled around (2 ish or so), we were all starving! Not a good thing to be when you're surrounded by fast food joints. I had a Wendy's stack and some fries (along with a light Minute Maid lemonade). Then, because I was still so famished, I had another stack. Damage done, right? Wrong!! When dinner time came around? Where did we go? Dairy Queen! I had two double cheeseburgers and a small blizzard (which I did not finish, thank God). I keep thinking that if my scale were functioning, I could see the damage and do something about it.

Since the weekend, thankfully, I have been better. Today I'm pretty hungry, but I'm not letting it rule me. I figure I'll do a weight training workout this afternoon and then eat a good, solid protein-filled dinner. That ought to take care of things (I did work out this morning, btw; 50minutes on the elliptical). I burned around 650 calories. I definitely need more weight training, as I've said before. It's the muscle that's going to do me the most good.

Here's to hoping that 20% off coupon for Bed, Bath and Beyond is in the mail today. Yeesh!!

So, I'm going to try and keep up with what I'm doing on this site as well as my calorie site. I don't know how successful I'll be, but I'd like to have an additional record of what I'm doing, just in case one site dies/crashes/disappears.

I'll try to keep it simple. I'm not sure how many other people are viewing this site, so the simplicity is for me. Retracing my steps is a lot easier when there's not a lot of muck to step through.

Workout - 50 minutes (661 calories) Elliptical trainer

Breakfast - Fiber One Caramel Delight cereal with fat free coffee mate. A second bowl of Fiber One Honey Clusters with fat free coffee mate (I was starving this morning. I should have found a protein source, but I wasn't in the mood for fish...which was the only quick source available).

Lunch - haven't prepared it, but will have tofu and brown rice. I'm looking for a vegetable (most likely dry coleslaw mix.

I didn't weigh this week because my scale is deceased. I hope to buy another one soon. I have no idea where I am or what's happening with my weight...I'm wishing for 150s, but I think that's in vain after last weekend's splurging.

So, after hubby's show this weekend, I have more motivation to try and tackle the whole figure physique. I think if I lost thirty pounds (Phew! That seems like a whole, heck of a lot) and had the muscle I'm carrying now, I could do pretty well. My weight training will have to pick up. As I mentioned before, I've been doing crazy cardio as of late (burning somewhere in the neighborhood of 700-800 calories per session). I've also been eating more because of this, but not always the best items. I've got to get back into the Oats-eggs-tuna regime. It's so boring, though!!

I didn't weigh last week because TOM showed up. Then, a couple of days later, hubby stepped on the scale and it responded with a flashing "CAL" which normally means it's calibrating; however, this usually goes away after a few seconds. Not so that time. It flashed like a disco ball for nearly a minute and a half. Not a good sign. Now, the screen is dark. You try to step on it and no response. I tried replacing the battery and...nothing. The scale is officially dead. When I get another one of those 20% off coupons (that we all get) for BedBathandBeyond again, I'll be purchasing a new scale. I don't feel that I'm a slave to it anymore, I just like to gauge what's happening. I also need the numbers for my goal rewards (haven't had one of those in a while...sigh). The next one is perfume. (Que A Chorus Line..."God, I hope I get it...I hope I get it!")

My legs are like rocks, did I mention this? Seriously. They are hard where the muscles are. The flabby part isn't as flabby, but I'm thinking I'd like the flabby part to be taut as well. The arms need serious help! I can tell I've lost fat in them, but it looks like the air has been let out and they are swinging. Yikes! My triceps are beautiful when I flex, but I want them to look like that even when I don't. I've seriously got to get to work. As I looked at the women at the show I thought, "You know, I could do this." The only draw back is that I don't have a gym membership. Perhaps my goal will be to see if you can compete without a gym membership. Can a person place in a show who only has her free weights, her cardio equipment and her videos? I wonder...

It will probably be a year before I can even attempt as much and that's if I can keep myself going without interruptions like sickness, work weirdness and kid drama. I guess it's a wait-and-see game.