burgundypants

Happy Friday all. Tonight I am hosting a (sometimes) weekly event that my friends and I have been doing for 2+ years. It’s the first one since, I think June, so I”m going all out. It kind of makes me think my diet is going all out tonight. I’m fine eating a healthy lunch and breakfast and working out. But then, all afternoon I’m going to be cooking all sorts of yummy things. I tried to plan a menu with a few healthy selections: hummus and veggies, and shrimp stuffed cherry tomatoes. And with everything else, if I could go light, reduced fat, or fat free, I did. I’m making mini beef wellingtons (got reduced fat boursin cheese and lean meant), baked brie (reduced fat crescent rolls), sweet potato cakes with a fresh blueberry relish (sweetener instead of sugar),  sundried tomato tartlets with goat cheese (it’s a South Beach recipe, although for phase 3), bruschetta, sweet and sour kielbasa (healthy choice turkey kielbasa), and chocolate peanut butter bars  (couldn’t do anything here, but DAMN, are they good).

So this is what I’ve been thinking about for the past week. FOOD. And tons of it. Well, and wine to. The deal is, the host provides some food and everyone who comes either brings a bottle of wine or more food or both. Always a ton of fun. Is it terrible that I’ve been planning on breaking my diet basically since it started for tonight? I’m going to try to be good and not eat too much. Have a light, healthy dinner before hand. And just try 1 of everything (except the brie, I’m fine skipping it periodically). Is this terrible? I’ve already started feeling guilty. I felt guilty yesterday when I had a VERY small piece of the chocolate peanut butter bars as I was cutting them up. And that was after having a funky tummy (couldn’t keep anything down until after 4, but at 4 miraculously felt all better). I had a fairly healthy dinner, guisado rojo (I know it’s supposed to be verde, but I couldn’t find tomatillos and used fire roasted tomatoes instead and it was quite good.) I didn’t even douse it in sour cream and cheese like my boyfriend did.  I’M TRYING!

The scale finally moved again today, after stagnating for 3 days. Is it normal to plateau that early in dieting? How can one avoid or overcome plateaus?

Well, have a very happy and safe weekend.

GO GATORS!

… to mid drift bearing costumes. I know, I know, it’s not even September yet, but I am nuts about themed parties and Halloween. My boyfriend and I started throwing around “couples ideas” last night, and he ended up finding a Jafar costume he loved… which would make me Princess Jasmine. I don’t know about you, but I don’t think I’ll be in the shape to wear that costume anytime soon. I don’t think I’ve EVER been in the shape to wear that costume, and back a few years ago at 135, I think I looked pretty damn good. This morning, when I was dropping him off at class before I went to mine, I told him that if he was set on Jafar, I would make as big an effort as possible to get into shape this month. And if at the end of September, I still didn’t think I’d feel comfortable in it, I couldn’t do it. He was very agreeable to that compromise. Until I told him what working hard would entail. Football season is starting. Football means wings, and pizza, and beer, and fries, and… you get it. Anyway, I told him that none of those things would be consumed around me for the next month, probably the next two. While he definitely understood, I think he has decided to move away from that costume idea.

We were also talking about Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII. We watch the Tudors, so I thought that would be cute. I really don’t like the costume you find when you google Anne Boleyn costumes, but there are some really cute Marie Antoinette costumes… close enough, right?

Regardless, Halloween seems to be a time when college girls wear as little clothing as possible. Which means the weight needs to come off NOW!

I have been sticking really well to South Beach. I’m nearly done with phase 1 (I know, just starting). I’ve been working out nearly everyday, and it’s crazy how much more flexible I am in just this small amount of time. I really wish there was a quick fix for weight loss, but I guess if it was easy, everyone would do it.

If anyone has any ideas for cute couple’s costume ideas, I would LOVE to hear them! Hope all is well!

I’ve had a several month lapse on anything related to being healthy. Finished finals. I went on an amazing trip with my mother - France, Italy, Spain, and Monaco. Got sick, stayed sick. Gained some weight. Well, I’m finally feeling better, although my UC is flaring again and I’ve been experiencing severe joint pain this week. Anyway, I decided I needed to do something about my lifestyle. Rather than just “eating healthy,” I decided to try sticking to a plan. My dad lost over 40 pounds on South Beach a year ago, so I settled on trying that. I started Sunday. I know my ticker says I’ve only lost 4 pounds, but it’s because buddyslim doesn’t let me do 1/2 pounds. So I’m really at 5 because I started at 159.5 and am now at 154.5. Anyway, I’m really motivated and have been sticking to my diet… errr… life style change completely. It’s been really weird going out with friends and my boyfriend and not even having a single drink. Wow, that sounds like I drink too much. I really don’t. I like having a glass of wine with dinner sometimes. Or if I go out with friends a drink. It’s just part of the ritual. And I’m so used to having something in my hands, even if I’m not drinking it that it’s been odd. But those are empty calories that I don’t need.

The first day after I started South Beach, a group of friends and I went to Mellow Mushroom. They have really yummy pizza, and it was trivia night, so $1 PBRs. Anyway, I smelled the pizza, but stayed strong. I ordered a water. I have amazing friends though, they’re so supportive. And my boyfriend, too.

I’ve been working out regularly…since Sunday. I missed two days, once b/c I was too sore from working out prior days, and the other b/c I was having problems my SI joint and couldn’t even walk.

Classes started again Monday, and what a difference being a 2L makes. It’s like a completely different school. I don’t have class on Friday, which is AMAZING. And, no more early mornings this semester. Which means that I wake up, eat a healthy breakfast, study while I digest, and then work out. All before class. It’s been a really great week. I’m doing well. I can do this. 8 days left of phase 1, so far I don’t think it’s been that hard - except watching people eat pizza. Anyway, hope all is well with everyone.

Seriously, I need finals to be over. I need to finish a paper… that I haven’t started by the 5th (10 pages…). Then I have finals on the 9th and 11th. Then I have a presentation on the 13th about public benefits relating to elder law. And I have to do my other pro bono work which is 4 hours every Thursday and some Fridays. I just want it to be the 13th. That’s all I want right now. I need to get all of this done without resorting to my typical stress eating.

Proud of myself, in that I actually made time to work out today. I didn’t think I’d be able to; it’s so hard justifying spending time on anything that isn’t related to school. To top everything off I’ve been having serious joint problems. Stupid SI joint. Stupid UC. I mean seriously, I get all the sucky symptoms of UC, but not the good one - weight loss. Heh. Gotta be able to laugh at myself, otherwise I don’t think I’d stop crying.

Just another 2 weeks. 2 weeks…

Oh, and I’m SO excited,  my mother and I are taking a trip. We leave on the 19th - fly into Paris, spend some time there, then some time in Barcelona, then a 7 night cruise with ports in France and Italy, then more time in Paris… then I have to go home.

So, really, these next 2 weeks need to pass very quickly.

I hate finals. So much. I have my first exam tomorrow, then a 10 page paper due on July 5. My other two finals are on July 9 and 11. Who knew law school would actually be work… I don’t have time to work out. Literally, I wake up, study, go to class, study, come home, study, and sleep. There isn’t time for anything else.  I’m just working really hard on not feeling guilty about my lack of exercise. I really can’t help it. I’ve been eating fairly well - better than usual for this close to exams. I’m just trying to focus on not stress eating. So, yea, after this post, I don’t think I’ll be on…much… until after the 11th. I’ll miss you all!

It’s not even 9:30 and I’ve already walked the dog, worked out, showered, and eaten breakfast. What a day! I love days when classes don’t start until 10:30. I get to sleep in and still get tons done in the morning! Now I’m just relaxing on the couch. I have Estates and Trusts and 10:30, then home from 12:30 - 2:30 (lunch is a little healthier at home), then back to the law school at 2:30 for Law and Public Policy. I LOVE being able to work out in the morning, then I get the “I need to work out or I’m going to feel guilty” monkey off my back, and instead I just feel great all day because I DID work out.

I just feel so great right now. Even though I haven’t really lost weight, I feel really good. Endorphins are wonderful, aren’t they??

So, I still really haven’t lost anything, but I’ve been eating really well - tons of water, fruits, veggies, lean protein, fiber. And, I’ve worked out everyday for a week, which doesn’t sound much, but considering a few weeks ago my hematocrit level was around a 26, I’m feeling really good. In the last week, I’ve made noticable improvements in my work outs. I went from pulling an average 2:30 500 split to pulling an average 2:20. I’ve also increased the duration of my workouts from 15 minutes to 27 minutes today. I know, odd number, but when I have to stop, I stop. I’m trying to build up to at least 30 minutes a day most days a week (I don’t want to say everyday b/c then if I miss a day, it will feel like failing, but I am def. aiming more towards 7 days a week than 4.).

I guess if I lose weight, great, if I don’t, at least I FEEL good right now. Still not thrilled with my body, but I just feel like a different person today than I did a few days ago. I guess I really don’t see how I can’t lose weight if I keep eating the way I am and keep increasing my workouts. Seriously, the mechanics wouldn’t make sense… same calories + increased energy expenditure = (or at least should equal) weight loss… right??

My UC seems under control today and my SI joint doesn’t hurt at all right now. I think the lack of pain probably has the most to do with my drastically improved mood. It’s hard to keep a smile on when the slightest movement causes pain.

Hope everyone else is feeling as good as I am right now!! You all deserve it!!

So I haven’t posted in a while because there has really been no change in my weight. I went home two weekends ago for my birthday, and def gained a pound or two down there and since I’ve only lost a pound or two it set me way back. Then I was sick… had a flare-up of my UC which just wreaks havoc on my life. I mean, I can’t walk up the stairs without taking a break b/c I’m so anemic. I’m 23, I should be able to make it up a flight of stairs. Needless to say, working out was out of the question. After I finally started feeling better, I started working out again. Not much - don’t want to push b/c of my SI joint… geez, reading this you wouldn’t think I was only 23. Anyway, I’ve done 20-ish minutes of intense cardio (rowing) everyday for the past 5 days. I’m proud of myself. It’s a start. I’m hoping to be able to lose weight now. Who knows. I guess ultimately my goal is health, so if the pounds don’t come off quickly, I’ll live. Blah. Just blah.

It’s funny how easy it is to lose 2 pounds. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, the first two are always the easiet. Even the first five tend to come off pretty quickly - so long as the stress of finals aren’t part of the equation. Anyway, I’ve “re-lost” the two pounds I gained back from being home. Yay! My boyfriend came into town this weekend and I’ve managed to continue eating mostly healthy… except for the piece of pizza at 2 am last night (this morning?) when we got home… but I was still down this morning. I guess the rowing combined then dancing last night helped. Technically I’m down an extra 1/2 pound, but the ticker doesn’t accomodate that. Hopefully I’ll get the full pound off for tomorrow so I can “weigh in.” It’s so motivating to see the ticker move!! Hope everyone is having a fantastic weekend!