Reward & Punishment

I am so close to the 50 pound mark I can taste it! This will bring me down to 225 pounds. Ten more pounds to go before I get there.  I wanted to mark this milestone by rewarding myself with something special and unique.  And I found it.

Isn't it adorable and lovely?  I don't have it in my clutches yet...but soon..oh so soon!  I love owls. And I think it's a fitting symbol for weight loss success.  Owls are a symbol of wisdom...which makes me think of this....

"Wisdom is proved righteous by its works." --Matthew 11:19

I have made some wise choices and worked hard and it shows!

I am in Phase 4 of the Fat Smash Diet.  This phase allows for yummy and delicious things.  It also requires that I increase my workouts to 45 minutes 5 days a week. Not horrible. Very doable. I have been really good about allowing myself to have treats within the portion sizes allowed on the diet.
 
There is something incredibly empowering about being able to have a little bit of something delectable.  The fact that I am able to do this makes me feel like I have super powers.

At first I was going to skip the treats all together.  The idea of having junk in my house terrified me. I had to remind myself that the ice cream in my freezer is more scared of me than I am of it (as well it should be).  I am so glad that I took this chance. This is my real ultimate goal. To be able to enjoy treats in moderation. And not have it trigger a feeding frenzy.

Due to the fact that I have added extras into my diet, I am even more strict with getting my workouts in. And I think I may be going a little overboard.  Earlier this week I started my day with 30 minutes on the elliptical, swam for an hour, and then went for a one hour bike ride in the evening. It was too much. Much too much. I chose to do all those things mostly because they were all fun and I wanted to...but if I'm honest with myself it's because I am terrified of what that scale will say Monday because of eating all these extra calories.  I don't want to use exercise as a punishment.  I hate when I feel this way. I lost zero pounds last week and I know if the same thing happens this week (or God forbid, goes UP), I will be devastated.  I don't want to be THAT girl.  The girl who lets her mood be governed by the number on the scale. How do I stop this?

Here is a shot of how my hair looked after I slept in braids, took them out and pinned it back :-)

Here is the back view....

And a pic of me with Hubs.

On a much less vain note....as you can see by that count down on my side bar... the March of Dimes: Walk for Babies is right around the corner.

I was told it was going to be a short 2 mile walk on the beach.  Turns out it's a 5K.  I feel very very under prepared. I am a really slow walker.  But this is a cause that is near and dear to my heart.  I will have fun and be glad I did it....but right now I am scared.

The first (and last) time I did a 5K I finished 3rd to last.  The worst part is that this information comes up when I Google myself (like you don't!).  I hope old friends from High School aren't stumbling across this embarrassing bit of information when they get to wondering what I have been up to... cringe.

Really though, I am not concerned with the time. I'm happy I'm doing it and will have a blast!

Weigh-In: 237.4 lb

Weight:  237.4 lb

Week Loss:  -2 lb

Total Loss:  - 37.6 lb


Left to Lose: 62.4 lb


When I stood on the scale this morning I could not believe my eyes.  It was my second week of the Ready For Summer Challenge and the Fat Smash Diet.  After losing 12 pounds Week 1, I was not expecting much of a loss Week 2.  And then I got sick and spent the whole week on the couch.  I am not one of those people that loses weight when I'm sick.  It feels GOOD to eat when I have a sore throat.  Weird.  I did my best to stay on plan.

Instead of eating ice cream to make my throat feel nice, I made Banana Soft Serve.  I had read about it on 100 blogs but never tried it cuz...well...it sounded dumb.  I didn't think it would be good. And I was WRONG.  So good and the same consistency as ice cream!

You just cut up a banana and freeze it.  Put it in a food processor with some vanilla extract and cinnamon.  Run the food processor until it looks just like this!  



It really hit the spot.  Doesn't it look like ice cream??


 And I exercised when I felt up to it.  I have lost 14 pounds in the last two weeks!  I have a callus on my shoulder from all this patting myself on the back.  But I can't help it. I am so proud of me.

And also so tired. Losing weight is exhausting.  These last two weeks have been difficult because I have been working on getting a stockpile in my freezer of Fat Smash friendly foods.  After this week I should be good to go.  I have some tasty recipes coming your way.  This weekend I made  Stuffed Pepper Soup, Green Chicken Chili, and Spaghetti Squash Soup.  I froze all of it.  For dinners I am making Butternut Leek Soup and Hot and Sour Soup.  I also grilled up a bunch of chicken breast for quick meals.  I have really been digging on soup lately.  And I find that I lose a lot more when I eat soup.

I have also been throwing together stir fries.  My grocery store sells the stir fry veggies all cut up and in a big bag. So convenient and FAST.


The Ready For Summer Week 2 Mini Challenge was to spice up our workout and do something we haven't done before.  I was feeling better Saturday and went for a long bike ride.  There is a bike path on the canal and one section of it has all these shops and restaurants.  Hubs and I met another couple there and biked for 2.5 hours!!! Wow!! I love this couple.  They are a lot of fun.  The wife is about my size and it's nice to have friends who are eating healthy and trying to lose weight AND very close to the same fitness level and we are.  I couldn't believe how good I did.  I used to make Hubs stop every 15 minutes so I could rest and get a drink and BREATHE.  I didn't need to stop ONCE.  I was so nervous to go for the bike ride with other people because I was going to be embarrassed to stop and rest.  I had nothing to worry about.

I don't know if it's all due to my new physical prowess or the fact that I have a cruiser now.

And it's sooo much more comfortable.  It sits me up straight so I'm not all bent over.  And the seat is HUGE.  My butt did not hurt at all that whole time.  I do have post-traumatic butt pain though.  It hurts now!

I also think my stamina was improved by having a Camelbak Pack....ya know...one of those backpacks that is full of water with the straw that comes up next you your mouth so you can drink without having to stop your bike.  And it holds 70 ounces!! I shoved a ton of ice cubes in there too.  I felt a little silly on my blue cruiser while donning the Camelbak.  But a girl's gotta do......

After we had ridden for EVER we locked up our bikes and had lunch at a Greek restaurant on the canal.  I got a salad with grilled chicken and Skordalia dip.  Again, friends were there so no pictures of the food.  We already have plans for another bike ride Saturday. 

I just love eating healthy and being active!!!