Week 9 Weight Loss: -2.5
Total Weight Loss: -32.5
I am getting to be such a blog slacker! I'm still on the diet though, in case you're wondering. Though I must admit I've been struggling a little lately. The weight loss is going fine, but no one has noticed yet and it turns out that I do care.
I've got pants that literally fall off me so much I can no longer wear them, but not a single person has noticed any change (apart from the ones I've told I'm dieting). It's possible maybe they are just trying to be polite, but I just think that I still don't look different enough to really call any attention. And that's the sad part, that despite my 32.5 lbs I'm still in the same category to other people.
To make it worse, on Saturday I was at the store with my daughter and there was a very large, tall woman near us, NOT attractive and in a very unflattering outfit and my daughter said, Hey Mom, that looks like you!
UGH!
Last night I told my husband maybe 32 lbs is enough for now and I was thinking about taking a break. He said that he was proud of what I'd done, so that was nice. This from the man that has been sabotaging me the whole time. I finally caved on Sunday when he brought home a bag of Cheetos.
My work status is also changing now. I will be home with the kids weekends and also 3 additional weekdays each week. That'll be an interesting challenge, as time at home has so far proven the most difficult for me, temptation-wise.
Despite my thinking about throwing in that towel, I'm definitely not at that point yet. I know that September would roll around and I'd think Wow, I could have been more than half-way to goal by now. And Christmas would come and I'd feel regret I was still at 30 and not at 100, or at least 70! :)
So yes, I'm sticking with it because I know it works and I might as well get it over with now and out of the way. Bah, dieting!!
Showing posts with label medifast. Show all posts
Showing posts with label medifast. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Week 8 Report
Week 8 Weight Loss: -3
Total Weight Loss: -30
I have to admit that on Monday I think my scale gave me a bad reading, because it was way off. But Sunday and Tuesday I weighed the same each day, so I'm using that weight instead for my official weigh-in.
It's really late so I'm not going to write much tonight, but if I think of any nuggets of wisdom I've come across this week, or any interesting stories I'll come back and add them.
Total Weight Loss: -30
I have to admit that on Monday I think my scale gave me a bad reading, because it was way off. But Sunday and Tuesday I weighed the same each day, so I'm using that weight instead for my official weigh-in.
It's really late so I'm not going to write much tonight, but if I think of any nuggets of wisdom I've come across this week, or any interesting stories I'll come back and add them.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Medifast Peanut Butter Brownies
These brownies are my favorite treat right now. I will tell you up front that they have peanut butter in them. From what I can gather, 1 T. of peanut butter used to be permitted on the Medifast plan as a snack but they took it off the list because it is a trigger food for a lot of people.So if peanut butter is a trigger food for you I recommend you don't make these brownies. But if you can manage to get 2 T of peanut butter out of the jar and into the mixing bowl without eating the whole jar, you are in for a real treat.
Medifast Peanut Butter Brownies1 packet MF chocolate pudding
1 packet hot cocoa
1/2 tsp baking powder
2 T peanut butter
1/4 - 1/2 C water
optional: 2 T sugar-free chocolate syrup
Mix the dry ingredients together. Add 2 T of peanut butter.
Cut in with a fork until the mixture is combined and looks like a crumb topping.
If you are going to use the chocolate syrup add it now and mix it in with the fork until it's evenly combined. At this point the mixture looks like brown sugar to me.
If you used chocolate syrup add about 1/4 C of water and mix. If you didn't, use closer to 1/2 C. Mix thoroughly, but expect the dough to still be lumpy. It should be really thick, sort of like play-dough.
I like to cook the brownies in a greased mini-bread loaf pan, but they would work as muffins too I'm sure. I smooth the top with a spatula to flatten it. Then cook in the mini-loaf pan at 350 for 25 minutes. It will smell SO GOOD and chocolatey!The brownies end up being the thick, gooey type, not the lightish cake type brownies. They are so yummy just out of the oven, especially the warm middle.
This recipe makes two Medifast meals and should technically be eaten on separate days, because there's enough peanut butter in them for 2 snacks.
This recipe can also be used to make a birthday cake for a special person. Happy Birthday, Mom! Wish you were here so I could make this treat for you. I'd give you some of the one I made tonight but it's long gone. :)
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Medifast Crepes
Medifast Crepes
1 package MF vanilla shake
1 package MF eggs
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. vanilla
water, to get a thin pancake consistency
Heat a small non-stick skillet. Pour enough batter to coat the bottom of the pan.
Cook over a medium heat until the crepe starts to bubble. Turn the crepe over using a silicon spatula.
Here's where the trouble started. These things were so hard to flip!
I did a little better flipping the second one, but overcooked it. They cook really fast!
By my third try I was STILL having trouble flipping and it looked more like a pancake than a crepe. I admit to putting a little real butter and syrup on it, just to make it palatable enough to eat.
I was supposed to eat one and a half of these for a full serving, but I could only get through one. It was just too eggy and fluffy for me.
My rating on Medifast Crepes?
Monday, May 25, 2009
Week 7 Report
Week 7 Weight Loss: -4
Total Weight Loss: -27
Honestly, I was tempted to only put a 2 lb loss for the week after what I ate today. We went to a friend's for a BBQ and even though I brought chicken and salad I ended up eating grapes, a strawberry some pineapple, some cheetos, jello salad and the kicker? Home-made strawberry ice cream.
Of slight consolation to me is the fact I did manage to avoid the corn on the cob. And actually, I didn't have much of any of the off-plan things I had. Isn't it crazy to have to feel guilty about fruit on a diet?
I did do something fun and motivational this week. I got that box of too small clothes out from the basement and tried on a bunch of things. I ended up finding 4 summer outfits that fit and I can wear, and then some other things that should fit in about 10 lbs.
Now I'm wondering whether I should keep my bigger clothes, "just in case," or if I should have faith that I will never gain this weight back and get rid of them. I want to be done with them and have no reminders of them, but I also know I hope to get pregnant in the next year or so and (heaven forbid) I might need them again.
One thing I was hoping would happen by now is having people notice I've lost some weight. It's probably good they aren't yet, since I still don't really want to talk much about the diet to semi-interested, sort of friends. But at the same time it would be nice to hear people are seeing a difference. Maybe in another 10 or so lbs.
I have mentioned before that I'm on a message board with other people on the Medifast diet and they talk about their challenges and temptations and successes. There aren't too many in my group with younger children and sometimes I think they have it so much easier! Every day I am making food for my kids that I love and can't have. Whether it's toast or peanut butter sandwiches, or grilled cheese or fresh fruit or rice cakes. I'm terrified to make cookies with them, even though it's something my daughter and I used to do pretty often.
However, I wouldn't change it because I think I'm learning lessons I need to learn. I think I'm learning how to live healthier while surrounded by temptation. Not to say I don't frequently mess up a little here or there, but no big disasters.
I also bought a bicycle this week! I went riding around yesterday and it was so fun. I liked it a lot better than walking. Now I just need it to not hurt my butt so much. :)
Total Weight Loss: -27
Honestly, I was tempted to only put a 2 lb loss for the week after what I ate today. We went to a friend's for a BBQ and even though I brought chicken and salad I ended up eating grapes, a strawberry some pineapple, some cheetos, jello salad and the kicker? Home-made strawberry ice cream.
Of slight consolation to me is the fact I did manage to avoid the corn on the cob. And actually, I didn't have much of any of the off-plan things I had. Isn't it crazy to have to feel guilty about fruit on a diet?
I did do something fun and motivational this week. I got that box of too small clothes out from the basement and tried on a bunch of things. I ended up finding 4 summer outfits that fit and I can wear, and then some other things that should fit in about 10 lbs.
Now I'm wondering whether I should keep my bigger clothes, "just in case," or if I should have faith that I will never gain this weight back and get rid of them. I want to be done with them and have no reminders of them, but I also know I hope to get pregnant in the next year or so and (heaven forbid) I might need them again.
One thing I was hoping would happen by now is having people notice I've lost some weight. It's probably good they aren't yet, since I still don't really want to talk much about the diet to semi-interested, sort of friends. But at the same time it would be nice to hear people are seeing a difference. Maybe in another 10 or so lbs.
I have mentioned before that I'm on a message board with other people on the Medifast diet and they talk about their challenges and temptations and successes. There aren't too many in my group with younger children and sometimes I think they have it so much easier! Every day I am making food for my kids that I love and can't have. Whether it's toast or peanut butter sandwiches, or grilled cheese or fresh fruit or rice cakes. I'm terrified to make cookies with them, even though it's something my daughter and I used to do pretty often.
However, I wouldn't change it because I think I'm learning lessons I need to learn. I think I'm learning how to live healthier while surrounded by temptation. Not to say I don't frequently mess up a little here or there, but no big disasters.
I also bought a bicycle this week! I went riding around yesterday and it was so fun. I liked it a lot better than walking. Now I just need it to not hurt my butt so much. :)
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Lean and Green Zucchini Lasagna
1 garlic clove, minced
1 T dried parsley flakes
1 T dried basil
1/8 tsp salt
1 can diced tomatoes, drained
3/4 C. 1% cottage cheese
4 slices or 3 oz. low-fat mozzarella cheese
1 T dried parsley flakes
2 T eggbeaters
1-2 small to medium zucchini squash
In a large skillet, brown meat with garlic. Drain any fat and add the next 4 ingredients (parsley, basil, salt, tomatoes). Simmer uncovered for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Slice zucchini lengthwise in strips. This will be your "noodles." I include the peel but don't use the core with the seeds. 
Boil in hot water for 3-5 minutes, depending on how thick your slices are. Drain on paper towels.
Combine in a bowl cottage cheese, eggs, and the other T dried parsley.
Now it's time to start assembling! In a smallish greased bread loaf pan, I like to start with a sprinkling of meat on the bottom.Next add a layer of zucchini "noodles."
Top with half the cottage cheese mixture. 
Add almost half the mozzarella cheese. 
Cover with half of the meat mixture. 
Repeat layers - zucchini, cottage cheese, mozzarella cheese, meat. Top with the last of the mozzarella cheese or I also think a sprinkling of parmesan cheese would be good here.Bake 20-30 minutes at 350 degrees until the cheese melts and lasagna looks bubbly.
Wait 10-15 minutes before serving (if you can!)This makes 2 servings of Lean and approximately 1 serving of green, depending on how much zucchini you use. I think it's nice with a small lettuce and cucumber salad.
Notes: This is a rich dish, even though I think I've kept within the Lean/Green guidelines. I wouldn't recommend eating it every night!
Also, I prefer a non-runny lasagna and so far both times I've made this it's been a little on the runny side. Next time I make it I might add half a can of tomato paste to the meat, and subtract a little cottage cheese and replace it with (a much smaller amount of) parmesan cheese, just to thicken things up a bit.
The photos here are not of the 2 portion version, I doubled my recipe in the pictures so I could share with my family.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Week 7 Food Journal
Monday
Today I was really hungry! I think it's that I'm sticking more to eating the bars and hot chocolates because I like them best, but they don't satisfy as much as some of the other foods. I've been a little short on money recently so I'm cutting back my eating out for lunch and instead I'm cooking my own L/G meals at home in the evening. I'm definitely noticing I'm hungrier in the afternoons now, and I'm more prone to cheating in the evening while I'm cooking dinner. Monday I had my husband cook dinner while I gardened outside with the kids and that helped.
My dinner was YUM. I took 2 yellow squashes and used my potato peeler on them to peel thin, narrow strips of squash into a microwave steamer. My husband made spaghetti sauce with ground turkey and turkey sausage and a bunch of veggies, so I put that over my steamed squash and topped it with some mozzarella cheese. It was so filling and yummy! I didn't miss the noodles at all. It had too much sauce to be exactly on plan, but I tried to get mostly meat and not so much sauce and I think it was fine. For dessert a few hours later I made a chocolate shake cake and it turned out pretty good too.
Tuesday: -.5
A couple of days ago I cooked a MF chicken noodle soup on the stove and I added some extra veggies and real chicken, so that's what I had for lunch today. I'm hoping it will help stave the hunger off until I get home for my L/G.
Tuesday night I didn't get home until late, and I got tired just thinking about cooking something. My husband had taken the kids to KFC for dinner and there was still a chicken breast and a wing left, so I ate those. And nibbled on a couple bits of the crunchy topping. "That's because they put an addictive chemical in it that makes you crave it fortnightly!" (from So I Married an Axe Murderer.) It didn't set me back any, despite not really eating any green that night either. Sometimes you just do the best you can.
Wednesday: -.5
Doughnut day at work today, and they didn't even tempt me. I am having too great of a week to screw it up with a doughnut I don't even really like that much! Another good thing is I think a guy checked me out. I haven't gotten a look like that (from anyone but my husband) since I can remember, so I was diggin' it. I know I'm not hot yet by any means, but it's still nice to get a little glimpse of what could be. Tonight for dinner I had grilled yellow squash and hickory grilled halibut with lemon sauce. It wasn't quite as tasty as it was last time, I wish I knew more about cooking fish.
Thursday: -1
I had a hot chocolate, 2 bars and 1 serving of MF banana bread. It was the first time I've made the banana bread or used a sugar-free flavored syrup. I can taste the aftertaste of the artificial sweetener, and like all the baked items it seems kind of eggy around the edges. Other than that it turned out pretty good. For my Lean and Green I had Zucchini Lasagna.
Today I was really hungry! I think it's that I'm sticking more to eating the bars and hot chocolates because I like them best, but they don't satisfy as much as some of the other foods. I've been a little short on money recently so I'm cutting back my eating out for lunch and instead I'm cooking my own L/G meals at home in the evening. I'm definitely noticing I'm hungrier in the afternoons now, and I'm more prone to cheating in the evening while I'm cooking dinner. Monday I had my husband cook dinner while I gardened outside with the kids and that helped.
My dinner was YUM. I took 2 yellow squashes and used my potato peeler on them to peel thin, narrow strips of squash into a microwave steamer. My husband made spaghetti sauce with ground turkey and turkey sausage and a bunch of veggies, so I put that over my steamed squash and topped it with some mozzarella cheese. It was so filling and yummy! I didn't miss the noodles at all. It had too much sauce to be exactly on plan, but I tried to get mostly meat and not so much sauce and I think it was fine. For dessert a few hours later I made a chocolate shake cake and it turned out pretty good too.
Tuesday: -.5
A couple of days ago I cooked a MF chicken noodle soup on the stove and I added some extra veggies and real chicken, so that's what I had for lunch today. I'm hoping it will help stave the hunger off until I get home for my L/G.
Tuesday night I didn't get home until late, and I got tired just thinking about cooking something. My husband had taken the kids to KFC for dinner and there was still a chicken breast and a wing left, so I ate those. And nibbled on a couple bits of the crunchy topping. "That's because they put an addictive chemical in it that makes you crave it fortnightly!" (from So I Married an Axe Murderer.) It didn't set me back any, despite not really eating any green that night either. Sometimes you just do the best you can.
Wednesday: -.5
Doughnut day at work today, and they didn't even tempt me. I am having too great of a week to screw it up with a doughnut I don't even really like that much! Another good thing is I think a guy checked me out. I haven't gotten a look like that (from anyone but my husband) since I can remember, so I was diggin' it. I know I'm not hot yet by any means, but it's still nice to get a little glimpse of what could be. Tonight for dinner I had grilled yellow squash and hickory grilled halibut with lemon sauce. It wasn't quite as tasty as it was last time, I wish I knew more about cooking fish.
Thursday: -1
I had a hot chocolate, 2 bars and 1 serving of MF banana bread. It was the first time I've made the banana bread or used a sugar-free flavored syrup. I can taste the aftertaste of the artificial sweetener, and like all the baked items it seems kind of eggy around the edges. Other than that it turned out pretty good. For my Lean and Green I had Zucchini Lasagna.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Week 6 Report
I am happy to report a lot of progress this week! Since I didn't have an accurate weigh-in last time I am not exactly sure how much I lost this week. I do feel confident in my total weight loss though, especially since BOTH of my scales read the same number this morning...
Total weight loss: -23 lbs
Yay! I can't remember the last time I weighed this little! I'm in the new numbers. :) It's probably been about 10 or 11 years since I saw this number on the scale. I'm so excited about it.
There were definitely a few days that I splurged a little, but I stayed on plan the best I could and it paid off. The most challenging was on Saturday when I had some tator tots and popcorn chicken in the afternoon. Afterwards I felt like I had spoiled the day and I might as well stay off-plan for the rest of the day. I knew deep down it wasn't true though and I could still have a good day if I got back on track, so I made myself do it. And it paid off!
I've finally broken that 20 lb barrier and feel like I'm on track to lose 3-5 lbs this week and maybe even make it to -30 soon.
I went shopping on Friday after work for fun to see if I'm down any sizes and I am! I used to be in the very top of a size 24, with my clothes getting snug and tight. I probably should have gone up to a 26.
The pants that fit me then are too baggy now, and the jeans I had to really squeeze into can now close just fine, even when they are right out of the dryer. My tummy isn't as mortifying to me in my shirts any more, even though it is still mortifying. Just not as MUCH. :) And I'm fitting into the size 22 fine now, with size 20's going on but snug.
I got a pair of 20's and 2 18's that were on sale. I can't even get the 18's up, so it'll be fun and exciting when I get to the point I can get them on. I also have some 18/20 clothes in a box downstairs from a friend that lost weight and I'm looking forward to getting them out in a week or two and see how they fit.
I also took my measurements a few weeks ago and they showed -3 in my waist and abdomen as of yesterday. It is great to have such positive changes and it really motivates me to do my best to stay on plan. I'm hoping to do more exercising this week as well.
Total weight loss: -23 lbs
Yay! I can't remember the last time I weighed this little! I'm in the new numbers. :) It's probably been about 10 or 11 years since I saw this number on the scale. I'm so excited about it.
There were definitely a few days that I splurged a little, but I stayed on plan the best I could and it paid off. The most challenging was on Saturday when I had some tator tots and popcorn chicken in the afternoon. Afterwards I felt like I had spoiled the day and I might as well stay off-plan for the rest of the day. I knew deep down it wasn't true though and I could still have a good day if I got back on track, so I made myself do it. And it paid off!
I've finally broken that 20 lb barrier and feel like I'm on track to lose 3-5 lbs this week and maybe even make it to -30 soon.
I went shopping on Friday after work for fun to see if I'm down any sizes and I am! I used to be in the very top of a size 24, with my clothes getting snug and tight. I probably should have gone up to a 26.
The pants that fit me then are too baggy now, and the jeans I had to really squeeze into can now close just fine, even when they are right out of the dryer. My tummy isn't as mortifying to me in my shirts any more, even though it is still mortifying. Just not as MUCH. :) And I'm fitting into the size 22 fine now, with size 20's going on but snug.
I got a pair of 20's and 2 18's that were on sale. I can't even get the 18's up, so it'll be fun and exciting when I get to the point I can get them on. I also have some 18/20 clothes in a box downstairs from a friend that lost weight and I'm looking forward to getting them out in a week or two and see how they fit.
I also took my measurements a few weeks ago and they showed -3 in my waist and abdomen as of yesterday. It is great to have such positive changes and it really motivates me to do my best to stay on plan. I'm hoping to do more exercising this week as well.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Week 6 Food Journal
Monday and Tuesday I stayed on-plan but I don't remember what exactly I ate. I know on Monday I had L/G tacos served in lettuce leaves. Yum! And on Tuesday I made zucchini lasagna which was also good. Tuesday night I got a new shipment of MF which is always fun.
Wednesday: almost back down to pre-cheat weight
8:00 - oatmeal raisin bar (mediocre)
10:00 - fruit and nut bar (mediocre)
12:15 - L/G leftover zucchini lasagna
3:00 - smores bar (my favorite)
5:30 - hot chocolate
7:30 - MF cookies
Exercise - 30 minute walk
Water - 64+ oz.
Thursday: -.5
8:30 - peanut butter bar (yum!)
10:50 - strawberry bar (better than mediocre but not great)
12:30 - L/G salad with lunch meat and veggies
3:30 - cream of chicken soup
4:30 - smores bar
7:30 - MF cookies
I also ate a half chicken salad sandwich. :(
Exercise - no
Water - 64+ oz
Friday:
I started out so great on this day. I went to a picnic with my daughter's preschool and they had SO MUCH yummy looking party food. There was pizza and all kinds of chips and dips, plus fruit and wraps and then sheet cake and cupcakes and cookies. Oh man! So, I had celery and cucumbers dipped in a little bit of 7-layer dip, and I unwrapped a turkey, lettuce and tomato wrap and ate the middle part like a salad. I had one bite of pizza and 1 bite of cupcake, but I was feeling very proud of my achievement. I could easily have "gone to town" with all that yummy food. That afternoon though my boss took my team out and we ended up at Dairy Queen. There is NOTHING diet friendly at DQ. I should have just gotten a bottle of water, but I was feeling really self-conscious, so I ordered a small blizzard and had half.
Saturday:
Weekends are usually my biggest struggle and this weekend was no different. I stopped at Sonic to pick up lunch for my husband to thank him for dealing with our daughter 2 days straight while I had work and errands. But it was a 30 minute ride home and I ended up eating 2 of his popcorn chickens and 5 or 6 of his tator tots.
Sunday:
I said I would do better Sunday than I did Friday or Saturday, and I did! I stuck almost entirely to the diet except for eating a little bit of the filling on an Arby's sandwich. My lean/green was pot roast, green beans and crispy kale.
Wednesday: almost back down to pre-cheat weight
8:00 - oatmeal raisin bar (mediocre)
10:00 - fruit and nut bar (mediocre)
12:15 - L/G leftover zucchini lasagna
3:00 - smores bar (my favorite)
5:30 - hot chocolate
7:30 - MF cookies
Exercise - 30 minute walk
Water - 64+ oz.
Thursday: -.5
8:30 - peanut butter bar (yum!)
10:50 - strawberry bar (better than mediocre but not great)
12:30 - L/G salad with lunch meat and veggies
3:30 - cream of chicken soup
4:30 - smores bar
7:30 - MF cookies
I also ate a half chicken salad sandwich. :(
Exercise - no
Water - 64+ oz
Friday:
I started out so great on this day. I went to a picnic with my daughter's preschool and they had SO MUCH yummy looking party food. There was pizza and all kinds of chips and dips, plus fruit and wraps and then sheet cake and cupcakes and cookies. Oh man! So, I had celery and cucumbers dipped in a little bit of 7-layer dip, and I unwrapped a turkey, lettuce and tomato wrap and ate the middle part like a salad. I had one bite of pizza and 1 bite of cupcake, but I was feeling very proud of my achievement. I could easily have "gone to town" with all that yummy food. That afternoon though my boss took my team out and we ended up at Dairy Queen. There is NOTHING diet friendly at DQ. I should have just gotten a bottle of water, but I was feeling really self-conscious, so I ordered a small blizzard and had half.
Saturday:
Weekends are usually my biggest struggle and this weekend was no different. I stopped at Sonic to pick up lunch for my husband to thank him for dealing with our daughter 2 days straight while I had work and errands. But it was a 30 minute ride home and I ended up eating 2 of his popcorn chickens and 5 or 6 of his tator tots.
Sunday:
I said I would do better Sunday than I did Friday or Saturday, and I did! I stuck almost entirely to the diet except for eating a little bit of the filling on an Arby's sandwich. My lean/green was pot roast, green beans and crispy kale.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Medifast Pizza
3 MF chicken noodle soup
6 oz shredded mozzarella, divided
2 T of some type of tomato sauce/pizza sauce/marinara
eggbeaters or baking powder (whichever you prefer)
1/2 cup water
Other pizza toppings, at your discretion
Put all 3 packets of the Medifast chicken noodle soup in a blender or magic bullet to grind the noodles into a powder.
Pour the chicken noodle powder into a bowl. Add either 2 TB of eggbeaters or 1 tsp. of baking podwder (either will work, I made mine with eggs because I was short on "Lean" today.) Add half the mozzarella cheese and any pizza seasonings (I used Pampered Chef Italian Seasoning).
Then add the 1/2 cup of water and mix all ingredients together. It should form a sticky-ish ball of dough.
Take your pizza crust and spread it out thinly on an aluminum foil lined baking sheet sprayed with Pam. I had to spray Pam on the spatula I was using to spread the dough out to keep it from sticking.
Put the crust in the oven at 450 for about 10 mins or until the edges are browned.
Take out the pizza crust, put on your sauce and the rest of the cheese. You can also add some olives or other toppings as you prefer. Place the pizza in the broiler for 2-3 mins.Voila! The perfect pizza!If you divide the pizza into 3 equal parts, each part counts as 1 MF meal, 1 condiment (the sauce), 1/3 Leaner protein (cheese), and 1/3 fat (from olives)
Monday, May 4, 2009
Week 5 Food Journal
I've noticed my daily posts aren't always that interesting now that I am starting to get into a routine. Therefore I'm going to start posting a single Weekly entry that I update daily with my food intake and weigh-ins.
Monday: -.5
8:30 - hot chocolate
10:30 - caramel bar
1:00 - MF stew
5:00 - hot chocolate
7:00 - grilled beef with steamed green beans (best beans I've ever had)
skipped last MF meal :(
Tuesday: no change
8:30 - hot chocolate
12:00 - L/G rotisserie chicken and roasted asparagus
4:00 - Cream of chicken soup
6:30 - peanut butter bar
Wednesday: -1
7:30 - peanut butter bar
9:00 - hot chocolate
12:00 - grilled cod and asparagus with side salad at Red Lobster - disappointing :(
4:00 - chocolate pudding
8:00 - pizza made from MF mixes (counts for 2)
Thursday: -.5
7:30 - peanut butter bar
10:30 - hot chocolate
2:00 - 1/2 L/G chicken breast and asparagus
4:30 - chocolate pudding
8:00 - 1/2 L/G tacos made with ground turkey breast on lettuce wraps - delicious!
10:30 - "shake cake" made with vanilla pudding for the cake and chocolate pudding for the frosting. This was soooo gross I had to throw it away and couldn't finish. I think I did it wrong, so I'm going to have to experiment with it again.
Friday: no change
8:00 - peanut butter bar
10:30 - hot chocolate
Saturday/Sunday - went off plan. :(
Click HERE to read about what I ate on my 6th week of Medifast.
Monday: -.5
8:30 - hot chocolate
10:30 - caramel bar
1:00 - MF stew
5:00 - hot chocolate
7:00 - grilled beef with steamed green beans (best beans I've ever had)
skipped last MF meal :(
Tuesday: no change
8:30 - hot chocolate
12:00 - L/G rotisserie chicken and roasted asparagus
4:00 - Cream of chicken soup
6:30 - peanut butter bar
Wednesday: -1
7:30 - peanut butter bar
9:00 - hot chocolate
12:00 - grilled cod and asparagus with side salad at Red Lobster - disappointing :(
4:00 - chocolate pudding
8:00 - pizza made from MF mixes (counts for 2)
Thursday: -.5
7:30 - peanut butter bar
10:30 - hot chocolate
2:00 - 1/2 L/G chicken breast and asparagus
4:30 - chocolate pudding
8:00 - 1/2 L/G tacos made with ground turkey breast on lettuce wraps - delicious!
10:30 - "shake cake" made with vanilla pudding for the cake and chocolate pudding for the frosting. This was soooo gross I had to throw it away and couldn't finish. I think I did it wrong, so I'm going to have to experiment with it again.
Friday: no change
8:00 - peanut butter bar
10:30 - hot chocolate
Saturday/Sunday - went off plan. :(
Click HERE to read about what I ate on my 6th week of Medifast.
Week 4 Report
Week 4 Weight Loss: -2 lbs
Total Weight Loss: -19 lbs
I have to admit I'm a little bummed. I REALLY wanted to hit the 20 lb. mark by today. My scale said -20 a couple of times this morning (I weighed about 50 times, lol), but not enough for me to think it was accurate.
Realistically, 2 lbs in a week is fine, and I was expecting eventually I'd be losing at about that rate. But I know I can do better!
Areas I need to improve this week:
Additional thoughts:
I've been thinking a lot about what I'll have to do differently to maintain my weight loss after I go off the diet. There are so many foods (treats) that I would love to have back in my diet, but I am going to try to schedule them so I'm not eating them all at once. I really want to keep eating a Lean/Green meal every day, and I'd love it if by then my family was ready to join me. So far they haven't been too interested in my salads and veggies (although my 4-year-old did eat asparagus last night with me).
So maybe once/week I can eat a meal that is a bit of a splurge, or maybe have a dessert. I'm also really looking forward to adding fruit back into my menus. That's another thing I'd like to help my family start eating more of.
I was watching Oprah last week because it was about weight loss and there was a guy on there that had lost something like 1,000 lbs and then turned around and gained it all back. He was working on losing it again. It was scary! I imagine working so hard and being thin for a while but then losing all that progress and having to start all over again. That must be soooo discouraging.
I always have a weight that is my "DO NOT PASS" weight. The main trigger for me starting this diet now was that I passed that number by 2 lbs and couldn't get them off with just traditional methods, so I took drastic measures. Once I meet my goals I'm going to have a new "DNP" weight, and if I go over it I will go back on Medifast for a week or so until I'm back below that number.
Hopefully, this will keep me from being stupid and gaining back everything that I've lost. I need to write up a list of all the reasons I don't like being this weight so I can read them when I'm feeling like cheating.
Total Weight Loss: -19 lbs
I have to admit I'm a little bummed. I REALLY wanted to hit the 20 lb. mark by today. My scale said -20 a couple of times this morning (I weighed about 50 times, lol), but not enough for me to think it was accurate.
Realistically, 2 lbs in a week is fine, and I was expecting eventually I'd be losing at about that rate. But I know I can do better!
Areas I need to improve this week:
- No cheat nights!
- Drink more water
- Simplify Lean/Greens (less condiments/fats)
- Eat 5 MF meals every day
- Eat 2 MF meals before lunch so I won't be cramming them in at the end of the day
- Make less MF cookies/brownies
Additional thoughts:
I've been thinking a lot about what I'll have to do differently to maintain my weight loss after I go off the diet. There are so many foods (treats) that I would love to have back in my diet, but I am going to try to schedule them so I'm not eating them all at once. I really want to keep eating a Lean/Green meal every day, and I'd love it if by then my family was ready to join me. So far they haven't been too interested in my salads and veggies (although my 4-year-old did eat asparagus last night with me).
So maybe once/week I can eat a meal that is a bit of a splurge, or maybe have a dessert. I'm also really looking forward to adding fruit back into my menus. That's another thing I'd like to help my family start eating more of.
I was watching Oprah last week because it was about weight loss and there was a guy on there that had lost something like 1,000 lbs and then turned around and gained it all back. He was working on losing it again. It was scary! I imagine working so hard and being thin for a while but then losing all that progress and having to start all over again. That must be soooo discouraging.
I always have a weight that is my "DO NOT PASS" weight. The main trigger for me starting this diet now was that I passed that number by 2 lbs and couldn't get them off with just traditional methods, so I took drastic measures. Once I meet my goals I'm going to have a new "DNP" weight, and if I go over it I will go back on Medifast for a week or so until I'm back below that number.
Hopefully, this will keep me from being stupid and gaining back everything that I've lost. I need to write up a list of all the reasons I don't like being this weight so I can read them when I'm feeling like cheating.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Day 28
Morning Scale Report: -1 lb
Wish me luck on my weigh-in tomorrow! I'm so close to -20 lbs in 4 weeks.
I also took my measurements today and will probably do an update on those in a couple of weeks. I'm wishing now I'd done it from the beginning, because I'm sure there's been some change.
Medifast Brownies
I made a variation of my MF cookie recipe last night to try to make brownies. I combined 1 packet of hot cocoa, 1 packet of chocolate pudding, 1/2 tsp of baking powder, and cut in 2 T of peanut butter. Then I added some water, maybe 1/3 cup and poured it into a mini bread loaf pan and baked it for 20 minutes at 350. It ended up like a gooey brownie and was pretty good. I ate both servings at once last night because I'm not sure it would be good cold, but that equals 2 snacks in one day which is slightly off plan.
9:00 - hot chocolate
2:00 - MF scrambled eggs
4:00 - shrimp scampi (1/2 protein)
5:00 - hot chocolate
7:30 - grilled shrimp and asparagus
10:30 - double MF brownie
Click HERE to read what I ate during my 5th week
Wish me luck on my weigh-in tomorrow! I'm so close to -20 lbs in 4 weeks.
I also took my measurements today and will probably do an update on those in a couple of weeks. I'm wishing now I'd done it from the beginning, because I'm sure there's been some change.
Medifast Brownies
I made a variation of my MF cookie recipe last night to try to make brownies. I combined 1 packet of hot cocoa, 1 packet of chocolate pudding, 1/2 tsp of baking powder, and cut in 2 T of peanut butter. Then I added some water, maybe 1/3 cup and poured it into a mini bread loaf pan and baked it for 20 minutes at 350. It ended up like a gooey brownie and was pretty good. I ate both servings at once last night because I'm not sure it would be good cold, but that equals 2 snacks in one day which is slightly off plan.
9:00 - hot chocolate
2:00 - MF scrambled eggs
4:00 - shrimp scampi (1/2 protein)
5:00 - hot chocolate
7:30 - grilled shrimp and asparagus
10:30 - double MF brownie
Click HERE to read what I ate during my 5th week
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Day 27
Morning Scale Report: +1.5 lbs
Alas! I'm blaming that gain on my scale giving me a false reading yesterday. :)
10:00 - hot chocolate
1:00 - peanut butter bar
4:30 - hot chocolate
7:00 - L/G fajita beef over green salad
10:00 - 2 mixes made into a brownie
Mashed Cauliflower
I took a head of cauliflower and cut it into small chunks. (The same size I'd chop potatoes into before boiling them for mashed potatoes.) I boiled the cauliflower until it was tender and then drained it. I added some milk and salt and then used my hand-mixer to mash it. It was still a little lumpier than I wanted, but it was fine. Maybe a food processor would get all of the lumps out.
Lemon-Chicken Sauce Reduction
In a pan I added a cup of chicken broth and the juice of 1 lemon and a tsp. of butter, a pinch of rosemary and thyme that I grew in my garden last year and dried. I let it come to a simmer to reduce, and then poured some onto my plate before adding my cauliflower mash, hickory grilled halibut and roasted asparagus.
I think I'll start adding recipes with photos, watch for those soon!
Click HERE to read about my 28th day on Medifast.
Alas! I'm blaming that gain on my scale giving me a false reading yesterday. :)
10:00 - hot chocolate
1:00 - peanut butter bar
4:30 - hot chocolate
7:00 - L/G fajita beef over green salad
10:00 - 2 mixes made into a brownie
Mashed Cauliflower
I took a head of cauliflower and cut it into small chunks. (The same size I'd chop potatoes into before boiling them for mashed potatoes.) I boiled the cauliflower until it was tender and then drained it. I added some milk and salt and then used my hand-mixer to mash it. It was still a little lumpier than I wanted, but it was fine. Maybe a food processor would get all of the lumps out.
Lemon-Chicken Sauce Reduction
In a pan I added a cup of chicken broth and the juice of 1 lemon and a tsp. of butter, a pinch of rosemary and thyme that I grew in my garden last year and dried. I let it come to a simmer to reduce, and then poured some onto my plate before adding my cauliflower mash, hickory grilled halibut and roasted asparagus.
I think I'll start adding recipes with photos, watch for those soon!
Click HERE to read about my 28th day on Medifast.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Day 26
I'm so excited to give you the Morning Scale Report: -3 lbs
The truth is that it actually read -4 lbs, but I'm going to chalk that up to a scale error, as I don't think it's possible to lose 4 lbs in a single day.
8:30 - hot chocolate
11:30 - South Beach chocolate peanut butter bar
1:30 - MF cookies
7:30 - L/G Buffalo chicken salad
10:30 - chocolate pudding
12:30 - vanilla pudding
I am so stoked to lose that last lb this weekend and reach -20!! If you've been reading here you know that I struggle on weekends, so I'm hoping this will really motivate me to stay strong, so come Monday morning I will be on the right side of 20 lbs gone.
And then I'll start working on 30. That will be all new territory for me. Once I lose 6 or 7 more lbs it will be all new numbers on the scale for me. I get excited just thinking about those new numbers. :)
I also am finally noticing my clothes are definitely fitting me better and I have trimmed up a little bit in the waist area. I'm so glad because although I want to lose weight all over, that's the area that gives me the most trouble with how I look in clothes.
I should also mention that South Beach bar I ate this morning. I discovered that the South Beach meal bars are pretty similar to the Medifast maintenance bars (the ones in the green packaging). So are the Luna bars. I am down to 3 MF bars and it's 5 days until my automated order goes in, so I'm tiding over with the South Beach bars. I won't have more than 1/day and if they don't slow down my weight loss I might keep using them, since they are cheaper.
Later - Right after I wrote that I had to go pick up my sick baby at daycare and take him to the doctor and then to the pharmacy. Then I had to make dinner for my daughter before I could really get to my own dinner. That's going to make it hard to get in 2 more MF meals tonight, so wish me luck. If I hadn't had that bar this morning I could have eaten one this afternoon while I was out running errands.
Click HERE to read about my 27th day on Medifast.
The truth is that it actually read -4 lbs, but I'm going to chalk that up to a scale error, as I don't think it's possible to lose 4 lbs in a single day.
8:30 - hot chocolate
11:30 - South Beach chocolate peanut butter bar
1:30 - MF cookies
7:30 - L/G Buffalo chicken salad
10:30 - chocolate pudding
12:30 - vanilla pudding
I am so stoked to lose that last lb this weekend and reach -20!! If you've been reading here you know that I struggle on weekends, so I'm hoping this will really motivate me to stay strong, so come Monday morning I will be on the right side of 20 lbs gone.
And then I'll start working on 30. That will be all new territory for me. Once I lose 6 or 7 more lbs it will be all new numbers on the scale for me. I get excited just thinking about those new numbers. :)
I also am finally noticing my clothes are definitely fitting me better and I have trimmed up a little bit in the waist area. I'm so glad because although I want to lose weight all over, that's the area that gives me the most trouble with how I look in clothes.
I should also mention that South Beach bar I ate this morning. I discovered that the South Beach meal bars are pretty similar to the Medifast maintenance bars (the ones in the green packaging). So are the Luna bars. I am down to 3 MF bars and it's 5 days until my automated order goes in, so I'm tiding over with the South Beach bars. I won't have more than 1/day and if they don't slow down my weight loss I might keep using them, since they are cheaper.
Later - Right after I wrote that I had to go pick up my sick baby at daycare and take him to the doctor and then to the pharmacy. Then I had to make dinner for my daughter before I could really get to my own dinner. That's going to make it hard to get in 2 more MF meals tonight, so wish me luck. If I hadn't had that bar this morning I could have eaten one this afternoon while I was out running errands.
Click HERE to read about my 27th day on Medifast.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Day 25
Morning Scale Report: +1 lb
Ugh, this is because I snacked on my fish dinner last night and failed to have TWO of my Medifast meals yesterday. I really envy people that like the meals (though I think they're crazy).
8:30 - hot chocolate
11:00 - peanut butter bar
2:00 - vanilla pudding
5:00 - hot chocolate
8:30 - L/G grilled halibut with cauliflower mash and a ton of asparagus
11:30 - MF cookies
And now I'm going to go home and eat my yummy fish and then maybe make Medifast cookies for tonight and tomorrow.
Later - I stopped at McDonalds on the way home to get some dinner for the kids since we had to wait around in town for my husband who had to stay late at work. Man, it smelled GOOD, especially the fries. I ate 3 fries and a nibble off the side of my daughter's cheeseburger and then I was done. I was very proud of myself for not going crazy with those fries.
Granted, I shouldn't have probably gotten that for them, but we hardly ever eat there even when I'm not dieting and I need to learn to control my impulses when something is readily available that I know I shouldn't eat.
It really helped that I knew I had my delicious dinner waiting for me at home.
Click HERE to read about my 26th day on Medifast.
Ugh, this is because I snacked on my fish dinner last night and failed to have TWO of my Medifast meals yesterday. I really envy people that like the meals (though I think they're crazy).
8:30 - hot chocolate
11:00 - peanut butter bar
2:00 - vanilla pudding
5:00 - hot chocolate
8:30 - L/G grilled halibut with cauliflower mash and a ton of asparagus
11:30 - MF cookies
And now I'm going to go home and eat my yummy fish and then maybe make Medifast cookies for tonight and tomorrow.
Later - I stopped at McDonalds on the way home to get some dinner for the kids since we had to wait around in town for my husband who had to stay late at work. Man, it smelled GOOD, especially the fries. I ate 3 fries and a nibble off the side of my daughter's cheeseburger and then I was done. I was very proud of myself for not going crazy with those fries.
Granted, I shouldn't have probably gotten that for them, but we hardly ever eat there even when I'm not dieting and I need to learn to control my impulses when something is readily available that I know I shouldn't eat.
It really helped that I knew I had my delicious dinner waiting for me at home.
Click HERE to read about my 26th day on Medifast.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Day 24
Morning Scale Report: Still no change
9:00 - hot chocolate
11:30 - hot chocolate
1:00 - L/G rotisserie chicken and steamed green beans and squash
4:30 - cream of chicken soup
Tonight I spent a long time trying to recreate my delicious lunch from last week with the halibut, cauliflower mash and asparagus. But I couldn't eat it today! I tried it all though, and it's good. Hopefully it'll warm up nice for tomorrow.
Click HERE to read about my 25th day on Medifast.
9:00 - hot chocolate
11:30 - hot chocolate
1:00 - L/G rotisserie chicken and steamed green beans and squash
4:30 - cream of chicken soup
Tonight I spent a long time trying to recreate my delicious lunch from last week with the halibut, cauliflower mash and asparagus. But I couldn't eat it today! I tried it all though, and it's good. Hopefully it'll warm up nice for tomorrow.
Click HERE to read about my 25th day on Medifast.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Day 23
Morning Scale Report: No change...
(...which is nothing short of a miracle.)
8:30 - hot chocolate
12:30 - Chipotle salad with carnitas (getting burned out on this)
3:00 - banana pudding
5:30 - caramel bar
10:30 - stew
Well, I've discovered my limit, here it is - being sick, having 2 sick kids, staying home with them for 3 days in a house full of treats, taking everyone to the doctor, running errands, finding out husband is going to hockey game.
Last night I ordered pizza for dinner for the kids because I was too sick and tired to even make them a hot dog! Then I ate some of it. I didn't go hog-wild, but I should have made a lean and green instead. The WORST thing though is that I decided to have some popcorn too while I was at it. Bad me.
I have been tired this afternoon, and it's probably from yesterday's carb extravaganza. It could be from still being sick today too though. I haven't had big-time carb cravings or a withdrawal headache like I got when I started the diet, so that's a relief.
Heather - Thanks for posting a comment! I'm glad this blog has helped you and I hope I'm not too terrible of an example. Hang in there, it really does get better after the first few days. Keep in touch, I'd love to hear how you're doing!
Click HERE to read about my 24th day on Medifast.
(...which is nothing short of a miracle.)
8:30 - hot chocolate
12:30 - Chipotle salad with carnitas (getting burned out on this)
3:00 - banana pudding
5:30 - caramel bar
10:30 - stew
Well, I've discovered my limit, here it is - being sick, having 2 sick kids, staying home with them for 3 days in a house full of treats, taking everyone to the doctor, running errands, finding out husband is going to hockey game.
Last night I ordered pizza for dinner for the kids because I was too sick and tired to even make them a hot dog! Then I ate some of it. I didn't go hog-wild, but I should have made a lean and green instead. The WORST thing though is that I decided to have some popcorn too while I was at it. Bad me.
I have been tired this afternoon, and it's probably from yesterday's carb extravaganza. It could be from still being sick today too though. I haven't had big-time carb cravings or a withdrawal headache like I got when I started the diet, so that's a relief.
Heather - Thanks for posting a comment! I'm glad this blog has helped you and I hope I'm not too terrible of an example. Hang in there, it really does get better after the first few days. Keep in touch, I'd love to hear how you're doing!
Click HERE to read about my 24th day on Medifast.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Day 22
Morning scale report: I'm going to say -2 lbs, but my new scale is just as inconsistent as my old one. I really need to find a decent scale.
8:30 - hot chocolate
11:30 - scrambled eggs
1:00 - vanilla shake
I still feel pretty awful. Could it be the swine flu? Haha, probably not. At least if I die though I'll be 17 lbs lighter for the pallbearers!!
I'm home from work today with the kids and today's probably going to end up a wash, but I'm resisting going completely off plan and using being sick as my excuse.
I did find a way to make the vanilla shake slightly less appalling and made another discovery at the same time. Since I don't like to overmix the shakes (because they become so voluminous if you blend or mix them much) I mixed ice and water together in my blender/magic bullet first. And it made this super nice slushy water. I would have that as a treat! I love slushies, and don't even feel like I would need it flavored.
Medifast Creamy Shake
For the shake, I used 1/2 cup of water, 3 big ice cubes and I also added a T of low-fat cream cheese and then the shake. It was still really bad to me, but I didn't have nearly the trouble finishing it that I usually have. I'm wondering how it would be with a chocolate shake.
Click HERE to read about my 23rd day on Medifast.
8:30 - hot chocolate
11:30 - scrambled eggs
1:00 - vanilla shake
I still feel pretty awful. Could it be the swine flu? Haha, probably not. At least if I die though I'll be 17 lbs lighter for the pallbearers!!
I'm home from work today with the kids and today's probably going to end up a wash, but I'm resisting going completely off plan and using being sick as my excuse.
I did find a way to make the vanilla shake slightly less appalling and made another discovery at the same time. Since I don't like to overmix the shakes (because they become so voluminous if you blend or mix them much) I mixed ice and water together in my blender/magic bullet first. And it made this super nice slushy water. I would have that as a treat! I love slushies, and don't even feel like I would need it flavored.
Medifast Creamy Shake
For the shake, I used 1/2 cup of water, 3 big ice cubes and I also added a T of low-fat cream cheese and then the shake. It was still really bad to me, but I didn't have nearly the trouble finishing it that I usually have. I'm wondering how it would be with a chocolate shake.
Click HERE to read about my 23rd day on Medifast.
Week 3 Report
Week 3 Weight Loss: -5 lbs
Total Weight Loss: -17 lbs
I'm not actually sure why my number is so good this week, considering my weekend. Weekends are by far my toughest time. It's partly the temptation of having and making food for the kids, like the grilled cheese sandwiches I made for them Saturday night. Oh, how I love grilled cheese!
But actually, it is more a problem with making the time to make my meals. Granted, it's not that hard to make a mix. But when I'm with the kids I feel like I go from doing one thing for them to the next, or collapsing exhausted, and I don't take enough time for me. That is something I'd like to work on. Not that I'm giving myself permission to be selfish. But if I'm going to continue healthy eating habits, I need learn how to make them a priority.
My whole family would benefit, both from having a healthy wife/mom, and from eating healthier meals.
Total Weight Loss: -17 lbs
I'm not actually sure why my number is so good this week, considering my weekend. Weekends are by far my toughest time. It's partly the temptation of having and making food for the kids, like the grilled cheese sandwiches I made for them Saturday night. Oh, how I love grilled cheese!
But actually, it is more a problem with making the time to make my meals. Granted, it's not that hard to make a mix. But when I'm with the kids I feel like I go from doing one thing for them to the next, or collapsing exhausted, and I don't take enough time for me. That is something I'd like to work on. Not that I'm giving myself permission to be selfish. But if I'm going to continue healthy eating habits, I need learn how to make them a priority.
My whole family would benefit, both from having a healthy wife/mom, and from eating healthier meals.
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