My Weight Loss Journey

I think I am ready for a challenge now. I was thinking to myself today, that I need something new to try. A different workout plan, meal plan, and mind set to follow. I feel like I am doing the same thing with eating and workouts and I am boring myself to death. So I decided to hop on my favorite site which is bodybuilding.com and believe me it has been a long time since I have visited this site.

However, I came across this 8 week summer slimdown plan to follow in order for me to reach my goal and not lose focus. I like that it maps out a eating plan and workout to following which I feel I need right now. Something to follow and say hey Natasha do this today or cook this today to get me going. The article is by Myron Miekle a bodybuilder himself check out his site.

Now, I am contemplating should I start this plan effective tomorrow? Or wait until the 4th of July celebrating is over? I am thinking, I am not going to over eat anyway, because I do not want to screw up my week. So I guess why not start tomorrow? Check this out and if you are up for a challenge join me and we can do it together. Well I better get my grocery list together so that I can have everything ready to get started.

Tags: healthy living, bodybuilding, fitness, nutrition, weightloss, nutrisystem

Hey you all. I was just reading on the net today and came across this interesting information that is really making me want to purchase the Wii fit system NOW!. Majesco announced on June 12th the launch of the Fitness Ultimatum 2009 with Julian Michaels as the fitness coach for this holiday 2008. Do you all not how fierce her workouts are? Oh my gosh!! check out this site called Gamasutra.com for more info regarding this new info. I am totally talking to DH to purchase the Wii Fit system this month!!

We have the Nintendo Wii Console and it is loads of fun. So far we have the wii spots which is filled with interactive games like bowling, golf, tennis, and many more and the Guitar hero III. The other day my son and I was at the mall and they had a Wii fit section displayed with experts to show you how to use the system and you can actually play on the equipment too. Man did I get a workout. I think this will help with that workout boredom that I get from doing the same thing most of the time. Anyone of you have this system yet? How would you rate it?

Tags: Jullian Michaels, Jullian Michaels’ Fitness Ultimatum, Wii Fit, Nintendo Wii, fitness, nutrisystem, video games

Okay, I hopped on the scale this morning and to my surprise I saw 169.5lbs!! I was like huh? This can’t be real. So I stepped on it again, and again and saw the same number. So, I am jumping for joy!! Hard work pays off and I will be working on maintaining that number and move forward to 160lbs this summer!! Yay!! Bye bye 170’s!!

Achievement seems to be connected with action. Successful men and women keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don’t quit.
- Conrad Hilton

Tags: Weight loss, nutrisystem, diet, healthy living

This post is for all of my friends that are getting ready for their next figure or fitness competitions this summer. I was catching up on my reading of my Oxygen magazine which is a awesome resource for womens fitness. Let me tell you I am so behind in my readings. I have already received my August issue and I am currently on June and July’s. Wow!

Anyway on page 28 of the July issue they talked about oral contraceptives and weight gain. What the article talked is as follows:

Studies on physically active women have found that oral contraceptives, when taken as a single fixed dose of estrogen or as multiple does over the entire menstrual cycle, increase body mass and body fat percentage. One study, published in American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, found that women gain almost 4.5 pounds within six month of going on the pill.

I was like what? Now, take it I have been on the pill since I will 16 years of age and after starting the pill I did notice a increase of weight gain over the years the first fews years. Keep in mind I was an active cheerleader, in track and played volleyball for fun over the summer months to keep in shape. I remember going up a dress size going into to my Junior year in high school. Sucks! Anyway the article continues:

They say that the weight gain did not seem to be permanent; once you stop taking the pill the weight appears to drop within a month. So, if you are preparing for a fitness or figure competition maybe consider stopping the pill at least a month prior to going on stage. (Just don’t have sex)

Oxygen Magazine, July issue, page 28

I tend to agree with that part. To this day I am a current pill user and let me tell during the week when I am just taking the placebo pill which is during the time of the month my weight drops big time. I mean like 3-4 pounds in a week with exercise and healthy clean eating. Then when I start popping those pills again the weight begins to creep a bit, but with diet and exercise I can keep it under control. Oh well, I can’t stop having sex and my DH and I are happy with our one child so far, lol.

Tags: nutrisystem, weight loss, weigh gain, bodybuilding, fitness, healthy living

Hey all! Thanks for your prayer regarding my dad. I spoke with him early yesterday morning and he is at home recovering. Late yesterday he went in for his MRI, so that the doctors can find a way to operate on his leg to clear his artery. I hope that they can find away, so that my dad can continue to do his walking like he enjoy and visit with family.

Today I am meeting with a friend for lunch. You know I will be ordering a nice small salad so that I don’t run into the over eating thing again. No way! Then later I will visit with grandpa. Maybe he may keep him Friday and then this weekend we are off to the beach and fun for the weekend!! Well, I really better get breakfast started and my plan for exercise will be tae bo amped and 20-25 minutes on the elliptical today!

It’s all most the weekend! Yey!!

Nat-

Okay, I was just sitting thinking why in the hell has my scale has not moved into the 160’s this week. I ate healthy, and exercised religiously then I thought what did I eat on  Sunday:? You all are going to kill me. Start sending the cyber butt kicking my way please.

1. Meal 1: Protein shake (200 cals)
2. Meal 2: Mediterranean chicken salad from La madeleine. {this salad consists of a bed of lettuce, cucumbers, olives, artichokes, feta cheese and grilled chicken along with a vinaigrette dressing. I ate the whole thing thinking it was low in calories, WRONG!! The entire salad is 710 calories. Stupid! Mental note only eat half
3. Meal 3: So bad .  . A Chuychanga from Chuy’s. Cals lets say 1200 w/ the beans and rice. Yikes!!
4. Meal 4: ice cream 250 cals totaling: 2360 cals and what I should be eating min 1300-1500 cals for weight loss and for maintenance for me should be 1600-1700 cals per day.

Lets just say I messed up and I will need to watch Portions again in order to enjoy these item from time to time. I am not saying that you can never have these items, but next time  since I found out the calories count will definitely eat only half the salad and half of the meal so that my calories will not mess up a good days workout and a week of hard work in weight loss.

Where is the scale at as of today. I don’t want to even say it but I will be honest, 173. Grr!! So here we go again to get it down and then some by June 30th. I can do it!!

Today my plan is:

Meals:

1. Meal 1: poached eggs, turkey sausage, and half banana
2. Meal 2: Protein shake after my tae bo amped workout
3. Meal 3: String cheese and 1 serving of grapes
4. Meal 4: Grilled chicken, salad and green beans
5. Meal 5: Kashi lean bar with fruit

Well, I am off to play with my little one and try to take a nap when he does. I was up late until 3:00am. I found out my dad (lives in Wisconsin) was rushed to the hospital late last night. He could not breath, not to mention he has congestive heart failure and diabetes too. Later I come to find out that he may have had  an allergic reaction to a medication that was prescribed to him very recently from what the nurse explained to me. It a mess. He also has a clogged artery in his left leg the he will need to go into surgery for too. So please say a prayer for him please. I was so sad and almost went on a emotional food binge, but I stopped myself. Sorry to babble. Just needed to vent a bit. Chat later

Nat

Tags: weight loss, calorie counting, calorieking.com, nutrisystem, diet

You all know that I have used nutriSystem back in the fall of 2005 to spring of 2006 and how well it worked for me and many of my friends too, right? Well, I was just on the net browsing and noticing at many different sites or forums of many people inquiring about “NutraSystem“. I was like NutraSystem? Okay, first I was thinking maybe there is another diet called NutraSystem, but as I keep reading they were really talking about Nutrisystem.

I could not believe how many people were searching for this program and how often the name was spelled incorrectly, not that I am the spelling guru here or anything. But the correct spelling for this program is “NutriSystem” and for those that are still seeking answers like does this program works, it does! Give or take 5-10lbs I have kept the remainder of the 50-65lbs of it off for almost 2 years now this May 20th! So that have to tell you something right?

Tags: Nutrisystem, NutraSystem, weight loss, diet, health, nutrition

With dedication I am seeing some awesome results!!

1. Monday: elliptical for 30 minutes on resist of 3. Then abs for 10 minutes
2. Tuesday: cathe friedrich cardio fusion DVD for 30 minutes
3. Wednesday: elliptical 30 minutes with abs
4. Thursday: Tae bo amped for 30 minutes and 5 minutes on elliptical
5. Friday: bike ride for 20-30 minutes
6. Saturday: Just finished step aerobics with cathe for 30 minutes

I am eating much better and drink plenty of water without the crystal light. I feel like drinking too much of the crystal light are making me crave more sugar, so I stopped that for now. I feel the slimming and I now for a fact that I will make it into the 160’s by the end of this month! I am from 175 to floating around 170-171 which is great!! Well I am off to shower and get ready for work. I will chat later

Tags: nutrisystem, weight loss, fitness, bodybuilding, nutrition, healthy living

Has anyone ever felt the way I did last night? Well, here is my story. . I truly made a commitment to eat clean to myself and to my hubby on Sunday night. I asked my husband to help this food addict (me) to not eat and over eat late at night which is usually my downfall of the day.

So Monday was my first day and man what I feeling like a food addict last night after work. You know how you start your plan/diet which is usually a reduction of calories and carbs and as a result you start to feel HUNGRY? I was so tempted to eat, but my hubby said, Natasha! You are night hungry. Right? Hell yes I was hungry and having a headache too. All I could think about is food like hamburgers, cookies, chips and queso, geesh!!!

Then he told me my own words which was not to eat late at night anymore. So, I did that and I was going crazy all evening until we decided to play his Wii “Guitar hero”. He purchased the Guitar Hero III Bundle w/ Guitar Controller Wii for his early birthday gift along with the Nintendo Wii Console. Let me tell you that was my life saver last night!! It took my mind of of food and I went to bed without eating when I shouldn’t. Plus it was so much fun!! I felt like a rockstar, lol. Hey if this is the addition key to weight loss that I need i will do. Guys, it is so much fun and you can work up a workout just playing some of the games too. I think I wan my hubby to buy the Pelican Wii Fit Starter Kit (Wii)

So if guitar hero has to be my saving graces this summer to have a hot Beyonce looking body then, let’s rock! Well I am out for now and will chat later!

Natasha

Tags: nutrisystem, nintendo wii, guitar hero III, weight loss, over eating, exercise, wii fit

I am so glad my cardio is done for today!! I feel great and accomplished. What did I do? I am step diva so Cathe Fredrich was my friend tonight for 30 minutes and then I did 14 minute ab workout on the exercise channel on cable. So what were my eats?

1. Meal 1: Protein Shake and banana
2. Meal 2: large leafy salad with feta cheese, grilled shrimp and veggies
3. Meal 3: 5 crackers with laughing cow cheese, and strawberries
4. Meal 4: chicken & green beans
5. Meal 5: skinny cow ice cream sandwich

I feel good and I am ready for tomorrow. I think my workout will be a blast from the past which is the biggest loser workout with Bob! When I do that DVD I feel like Bob is right in my living room. Don’t be jealous, lol..

Well, I am off to get some rest. Good night

Tags: weight loss, nutrisystem, diet, fitness, weight loss