Hi world!

It's been awhile but I am back in to blogging. I am at about 132 right now, these last 10 pounds are very hard. I let my habbits get kind of bad around Thanksgiving but I have been very good about logging my food and excercising lately. I made a deal to myself to only weight myself once a week, and I chose Thursdays. Tomorrow is Thursday so I am excited to do so. I think weighing every day may not be the best for me because I take advantage of a low weight if lower than expected and then I eat more!

Christmas is coming up...yay shopping! With the end of the year, that means finals as well. I have one last final tomorrow and then it is finally Christmas break!

I will check back soon!

MUST....EAT....VEGGIES

Today is the last day of the Attack Phase of my Dukan Diet. IT IS NOT EASY... at least not for us. I think for people that eat a lot of meat, seafood, etc it would be easier... but this is not me. For the past 4 days, my husband and I have been eating nothing but proteins... tofu, yogurt, veggie burgers, stuff like that. There is a list that you have to follow pretty much to the T, which we have done. I have lost exactly 4 pounds, he has lost a little bit more. I am weighing 133 right now, it's awesome.

Now I am a realist, and I know that if I went and said alright, forget this, and even if I started eating pretty healthy now but not following the diet, I would gain it back. I have been drinking A TON of water so a lot of what I have lost is water weight, but it served its purpose... motivation, and that is what Dukan wanted to achieve during the attack phase. Tomorrow, we get to start veggies!!! It is one day of pure protein and then one day of veggies and protein. As much as you want from the approved list. I have never been so excited to go to the grocery store in my life! Anyways, so now this next phase you stay on that rotation until you get down to your goal weight (only 8 more pounds for me!) I think.... I am still not happy with this little bit that wants to stay around my hips! But I figure since people already tell me to quit this obsession, I will start working out hard when I get to my goal weight to tone, rather than still focusing on losing the pounds.

I took a picture this morning... it's good to see my thighs not rubbing together as much. But that curve in my hips kills me! NO, it's not that "I have curves" because I know that but it is fat on top of those curves!!

There ya go... that's my progress so far! Just know that this is not easy, but I hope it gets better now that I can incorporate veggies into our meals! I will keep everyone updated!!

Hello World!

Hi, It has been a long time! Let me catch everyone (the 1 follower I have) up!

First off, a few months ago I started having severe pains in my chest and lower belly, to the point where I couldn't breath and would hover over in pain. After a trip to E.R. it was discovered that I had a fairly large gallstone that was stuck along my gallbladder and had caused it to be infected and inflamed. I had the surgery and I am 100% healed.

I now weigh 137 (about 6 pounds less than my last recorded weight on here I believe) and my goal weight is around 123-125 now. I have decided that I want to start the Dukan diet. YES I am so against the word "diet" but I have hit a plateau and feel this might help kick me over the hill to the other side. ALSO, the main reason this one appeals to me is because I eat a lot of what instructs to eat, a lot of protein and vegetables! My problem will be cutting out the cheese and sweets! I plan to join the gym within the next week or so, although strenuous exercise is not necessary for this diet only walking.

I am intending on starting the first phase on Thursday, the "Attack Phase." In this phase, you can only eat proteins. A VERY strict protein diet depending on how much weight you want to lose. I only am doing it for 3 days, after which I will introduce veggies in my diet. Yay!

So come on Thursday, let's get this started!

But I don't wanna...!!

I think I am going to wait until Friday to do my weigh in. Everyone has been complementing me on how good I look, and I have been feeling really good about myself but I am terribly scared to get on the scale because I was not good this weekend like I wanted to be. I went to a housewarming party and just chit chatted away... while snacking the entire time. Plus, Friday I am getting my hair done so I will automatically feel better about myself :)

Anyone like sushi? I hate anything that has to do with seafood but I LOVE vegetarian sushi rolls and when I am at HEB, it is not uncommon that I pick some up at the sushi stand. They are low in fat, and really tasty! A great, healthy, quick lunch solution.

I am going to start training for the Capital 10K soon, and am kind of excited. I have some time to train and I think I can get where I need to be in time. It will be a challenge and I am making my sister do it with me! I put my tree up this past weekend... everyone is giving me hell about it but I don't care. I don't understand why people feel the need to bring other's down when they are just doing what makes them happy and not concerning anyone else. My husband and I love the holidays, who cares if we want to decorate early?!! I live in the country, no one else has to see what I put up! I think we are just more excited that we have our own house and can put up our own tree for the first time!



I hope everyone has a fantastic week, and for those of you with banker hours like myself, stay positive and remember the 4 day work week! Also, I am getting a bit of page views but no subscribers or followers. Follow me if you have a blog, I would love to get to know my audience :) (Unless my views are always from the same person... Lindsey!!) Don't forget to sign up for Tricia's give away if you haven't already!

3 weeks already??!

My 3 weeks is almost up! I am dreading weighing myself Monday morning only because this past last week I have put zero extra effort into my new lifestyle. I am not saying that I pigged out or anything, I just haven't been exercising. We walked maybe only twice this week because I had a lot of school stuff and didn't get home until late. We are however, adding to our treadmill fund and will hopefully have one by the end of the year! That is exciting! Our diets have still been good though, and people are commenting about how we have lost weight. We even got my father-in-law interested in eating soy! Never thought I would hear that, but he wants to try all the recipes I make.

Veggie Heaven was SO good, I seriously recommend it to anyone that wants to dip their toes into soy food. My dad bought us a pressure cooker for our anniversary, and I LOVE it! We made artichokes in 10 minutes!! Anyone that knows about cooking artichokes can appreciate this :)!

Call me crazy but... the holiday decorations are going up this weekend! I LOVE the feeling of Christmas (except the feeling of wanting to eat everything!) and I can't wait for our first Christmas in our first home together! Go check out the Dollar Tree for all your holiday decorations... they have so many and at only $1! I came home with about 6 bags full of stuff and my husband couldn't believe that I only spent around $40 including some stuff I got at Hobby Lobby (50% off until Sunday... hurry!!) 

I hope everyone had a good Halloween.... I have been eating WAY too much candy, everyone seems to bring us some at work and that's another reason why I do not want to weigh in Monday. I just hope I didn't gain any weight! I will bust my butt this weekend!

Here is a picture of Halloween... my husband is very... simple. I was NOT Eve but Poison Ivy!

I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend. The weather in Austin is AMAZING right now and a great opportunity to go out and exercise. Also, check out Tricia's give away here to win some awesome active head bands!

I know we're in a recession but...

Last night we had a broccoli, mushroom, tofu "general tso's" stir fry with brown rice. I keep forgetting to take pictures, but it was so good! I actually make it quite often, but only recently quit frying the tofu and just put it in without a coat of flour. I love it! It's a high protein dinner with a good portion of vegetables and definitely a meal that satisfies the taste buds! We didn't get to walk as much because it got dark and thanks to living out in the country, getting dark means not being able to see at all. I have to think of what to do because the time change is coming soon and it will be dark before I even get home. We really want a treadmill, so I am taking donations :) Just kidding! But seriously, that is going to be our next big buy! And an elliptical but at least with one we can take turns and continue our cardio.

So for lunch today, I ate at a sandwich place that I am becoming so annoyed with! I don't want to call anyone out but seriously... Subway has gotten stingy near my work!! I counted... 4 black olives on my veggie sandwich with like 5 spinach leafs. I get almost every veggie possible, even a few banana peppers and jalapenos. The only thing I don't get is bell peppers. I don't get cheese, I don't get any mayo or anything, just a tiny bit of olive oil and some oregano.... so my veggies are VERY important. I have been so frustrated lately with the lack of veggies that they have been putting on! Anyone have any other "fast food" healthy suggestions that I can grab on the go because I am giving up on this particular location for now?

Tonight I have a work function so I am going to eat some veggie hot dog weiners with some yogurt. I like to include what I eat as much as I can just so others can have some kind of reference (in case you are wondering why I am always talking about food!) Tomorrow night, the hubby and I are going to go to a vegan restaurant called "Veggie Heaven" in downtown Austin, downtown meaning by campus. I ate there a lot when I was younger but haven't in years and am really excited to take him there because he has never been, nor eaten such foods except for the tofu I cook at home. I'll be sure to try my best and remember to take pictures! Almost Friday, then the weekend!

Hard work paying off?

Even though I planned on not weighing myself until the end of this whole 3 week journey, I felt the urge to do so this morning (mostly because I kind of snacked a little too much yesterday.) And guess what?! I have lost 3 pounds since beginning this whole lifestyle change! I don't remember the last time I saw 143 on the scale. I could NEVER get lower than 146! SO I was super excited. Not to mention, last night I ran. More than I ever have. And it felt good to run!! I hate the fact that it gets dark so soon so I kind of have to run now. Even my husband stated that he feels so much better during the day and has more energy. I can definitely tell the difference.  
Last night we watched this documentary called "Forks Over Knives." If you haven't checked it out yet, I would recommend it. I am not an advocate DEMANDING vegetarianism or anything, I used to cook a lot of meat for my husband, but even he doesn't eat it much anymore. Anyways, the documentary discusses some major consequences of eating animal products. I should also note that I LOVE cheese and don't think I could ever give it up! Anyways, it's definitely worth checking out, maybe just for some.. "healthier lifestyle motivation". It is available on Netflix instant streaming.

Last night I was really tired so we just ate some Amy's Frozen organic meals and called it a night. Tonight we're having stir-fry tofu with broccoli and brown rice. The brown rice I use is delicious. It is from Minute Rice I think it is called, and you just microwave it for a few minutes. It actually has a lot of flavor and even my husband likes it. There are also only a few recognizable ingredients so it is a good buy. I love the stir fry! Tomorrow I don't really know what we are having... I thought about grilling pizza again but I kind of think that's too much. Maybe we can have that again after the 3 weeks is over to celebrate. Maybe some whole grain pasta...hmm..