I'm a bad blogger!

Hey folks! I have been swept up in the world of Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.....

I've kind of abandoned my blog on a regular basis. BUT.... I do manage to hop on here from time to time and do a little reading. (Reading blogs about weighloss is way better than reading the real news!)

I must admit, I am on here posting today for other puposes as well. I am enrolled in a technology course at my local community college. I have to renew my professional teaching license and I'm no longer working in a k-12 setting. I moved into adult education and my PD there does not count toward my PD for licensure renewal.... go figure. Anyway, I welcome a brush up on technology.

SOOOO, I do have some 2015 goals. I have no problem going to the gym. I love going to the gym. I love lifing heavy. I'm just a hot mess when it comes to food. I love, love, love food. I love eating! I'm slowly getting back on track. I'm doing pretty good. Last week, I was with Janelle and Jenna doing meal prep for the week.

Here we are making chicken and veggies for our lunches.
Ohhh and a crap load of sweet potatoes! 

We are getting together again this week to make more chicken and veggies....... surprise, right? I have a different recipe. So chicken and different veggies!

It was really fun and really fast. We prepped meals for 3 people in about and hour and a half. We even screwed around for a while in there. It would have taken me so long to get all of this ready by myself. Divide and conquer, right?

I keep thinking I need to make this a regular thing in my life again. There is something nice about telling my random workout and food stories to people on the interent!




Find me on faceook!

Almost 5 weeks in

Hello! I'm almost 5 weeks into my meal plan/calorie counting/schedule eating. I have lost 11 pounds in that time.

I knew I would quickly be successful at counting calories. I just needed to get back on routine.

If you are still out there, and you are reading my updates, find me over on Facebook. facebook.com/notaneffingdiet

It is a lot easier to update my FB page from my phone and I often think of funny things to say!

Almost 1 week down!

So, I have been back on the meal plan for almost a week. I usually only weigh myself twice a month, but I weighed myself today. 4 pounds gone. So it really goes to show that what you eat counts just as much as how much you work out! I wish I could eat whatever I wanted, but I just can't. I have to be responsible! Counting calories is key.

I'm over on Facebook too. Facebook.com/notaneffingdiet

I'm so much better at updating my FB page!

I've been reading a lot of the blogs I used to follow! I'm glad to read that everyone is still being successful!

Where has the time gone?

Hello! I know it's been a long time, but I just have been busy. There is not enough time in the day to do everything I need to do. There are certain things I have to do: I have to work, eat, workout, spend time with my boyfriend, and all kinds of other things. Something had to give, and it seems to have been the blog.

I don't have much of an update. 2013 has been a difficult year. There have been many different things happening in my life, but if you used to read my blog on a regular basis, you know I don't get too personal.

I was off the meal plans for about 6 months. I was trying everything on my own. For the past few weeks I have been really thinking about meal plans and counting calories. Today I started a new meal plan. I'm happy I did. I like the structure of calorie counting. I don't find it daunting in any way. I just have to get used to eating at odd times again. So does everyone around me.

Working out has never been an issue. I have continued to work out regularly, 5 to 6 work outs each week. I've been running a lot more too. I still have no desire to run a 5k, half marathon, or marathon. I'll just stick to the treadmill.

These days, I also go to yoga on Sunday nights. It's an excellent way to unwind after a long week of workouts. It just feels great to relax and stretch for an hour.

I'm just not sure how often I will have time to post. In a perfect world, I would have time to write a funny, witty blog post every day. I was trying to keep up on other blogs for a while, but that also got away from me. I hope everyone is doing well and has stuck to their routines.

Still Running.

The running thing is still panning out for me. I'm into week 3. It's not too bad. 

Today, I did my first run of the week. I even wore my heart rate monitor to see how many calories I can burn in a run. Today I was just under 3oo. Not too shabby. 

Like I said, I'm not trying to replace lifting; I'm looking for something else to add in with my workouts. I need something to mix it up for a while. 

I would like to start running more often, and we'll see what I can do after I complete these 10 weeks. 

It feels pretty good that I decided to do this whole running thing on my own. I felt like I was capable of doing something else and I found something good for me. 

I'm sure that as it gets colder I will lose motivation, but in all honesty this plan will get me into the holidays. After that, I might ask Zach to help me with a plan to continue running and to keep it interesting. 

Random thoughts while eating....

I was sitting at my table today, eating a ton of fresh fruit, and thinking about how delicious fresh fruit tastes. I was eating fruit that I would not ordinarily eat. I was eating blueberries and raspberries. I like things flavored with blueberry and raspberry, but I just don't typically eat them alone. Anyway, it got me to thinking. 


A few years ago, you would have never caught me sitting at my table eating fresh fruit as part of my meal. I've always loved fruit, but I used to never think to eat it as part of a meal. I started thinking about my changes I've made because of meal plans, food choices I've made over the past few years, and how those choices have changed to more healthy options. 


My meal plans were and are designed so that I can eat what I want. I just have to make sure my food follows guidelines; such as calorie content, protein, and fat. As long as I'm in those bounds I can eat what I want. I've never been told that I have to eat certain foods for certain meals. If so, I would have quit this before it even started. 


When I started these meal plans almost two and half years ago I still ate some high fat foods; I just ate them in moderation. I ate certain proportions and I ate at certain times. As my plans have changed and different things have been added into my meal plans, I've made different choices. Basically, I've cut out some of the bad foods on my own and I have made better choices. No one told me that I had to eat fruit and vegetables to lose weight. I followed a calorie limit and I did the rest on my own. 


For example: I used to eat a lot of Lean Cuisine frozen pizzas because they were in my calorie, protein, and fat limits, but that was all I could have for an entire meal. Now, I like to eat meals, so I don't eat the frozen pizza. I make low cal, high protein options for my food. That way I can eat fruit, veggies, and maybe another side with all my meals. I love it so much better this way. 


I've met and spoken with people who try to lose weight and they cut out everything they love. They try to eat all fruit, veggies, low fat everything, and then they end up unhappy and quit. They go right back to their old ways. 


I try to let them know that in the beginning it's not so much what you eat, but how much you eat. If you have a significant amount of weight to lose you can just cut back on the serving size or how many servings you eat at one time. Don't eat the whole pizza! Eat 2 slices and save the rest for another 3 meals! That one pizza can go a long way! 


As you lose more and more weight you will naturally want to try different things and make better food choices. I believe that to be true, because it happened to me. I never thought I would enjoy eating grilled chicken, hummus, and fresh veggies more than I enjoy eating a big greasy, deep fried meal, but one day I realized it had happened. No one told me to even make the change. 


So, really my random thought led me to this overall thought: Make small changes. Don't make a huge, sweeping change at one time. Start small. Once you are comfortable with one change and you know you can handle and maintain it, make another change. Before you know it, you've lost 125+ pounds and you're craving fruit instead of greasy food. 


These days I blow off anyone who tells me that counting calories doesn't work. Those people are stupid in my book, because I've counted and counted calories. I've lost a ton of weight. I try to tell people that I'm proof that calorie counting works. I'm proof that working out works. I'm proof that people can make a change and stick to it. 

Thinking

Lately I've been not obsessed with losing weight. I am still doing my own thing with the meal plans and workouts and Zach and Janelle, and all that, but I had a strange thought the other day....


That thought was: I think I'm happy. I think I'm happy with my weight. I think I'm happy with how I look. I think I'm just happy. 


Now, that might be strange for some of you. I'm sure you're happy people. I've just spent so much of my life being unhappy with my appearance. I was never really vocal about it. I was more just in my head about it. I would have very negative thoughts about how I looked and how I felt, but I never had a damn clue how to fix it. 


I am very happy these days. I still want to get to my goal, but I think I've hit a level where I'm OK with where I'm at right now. If everything stopped right here, right now I would be ok and happy. 


I said the other week that I have 29 pounds till my goal and I still want to get there. It is important to me to meet a goal and I will meet that goal. I also want to have some skin removed, eventually. I used to obsess over that too, but in the past few weeks it has seemed less important. 


So, with all this happy talk aside, here's what makes me nervous: Now that I am "happy" will I lose my motivation? Am I going to start slacking off? I've been really busy the past few weeks and it has been a really big task to get my 5 or 6 workouts in each week. I've still managed to make it happen, but I've been having thoughts like, "Oh, I'll just go tomorrow or I'll get there later." I've pushed those thoughts aside and still done what needs to be done but what happens on the day that I believe my sabotage thoughts?


I'm also worried that all this happiness will lead to bad food decisions! I've had a few beers and drinks here and there over the past few weeks. I've been responsible about it and counted my calories and what-not, but I'm worried that I'm going to relax too much!


So, I know everyone strives to be happy, but I feel like I need to stay in state of panic and paranoia so I can stay focused!

What? A phone call from Zach Vargo?

Last night the most amazing thing happened. Well, not the most amazing, but something that I've been wanting to happen. I think Zach Vargo was excited and was trying to tell me he was excited. Zach is not an overly emotional, excited guy. I mean he is, but he just keeps all that stuff to himself. Anyway, I'm telling the end before I tell the beginning. 


So, there I was in Kelly's kitchen and my phone rings. I see that is says Zach Vargo. (I have to first name, last name him. I don't know why, I just have to refer to him by all names.) My first thought was that something was wrong with Janelle. My second was that it was about my bodpod from the day before. I answered because I was sure it was about the first reason. Zach never calls me about my bodpods. He usually tells Janelle to set a time for me to go over and talk about body fat and meal plans. He also has never looked a bodpod so fast!


Well, it was about the bodpod and it was awesome. Basically, Zach told me that I have 29 pounds until I reach my goal weight and I will be at 20% body fat. Right now I'm just over 30%. 


For the sake of time and typing I'm going to put the rest in list form:


- My chances for disease have severely decreased because I'm no longer carrying around all this extra weight
- I have about 101,500 calories to burn before my goal weight. 
- When I started it was something like 5 million and some calories to burn before reaching my goal weight (Zach Vargo does everything in numbers and I'm telling you it works. Just looking at your weight and activity on paper as a math problem really hits home for some reason.)
- At 20% body fat I will be at the bottom of the "lean" category. Right now I'm moving into the "moderately lean" category. He said that Janelle is usually more than 20% body fat when she starts training for a show. 
- When I reach my goal weight I will be 135 pounds. 


I could tell from the way Zach was talking that he really was excited, even though the words "I'm really excited" never came out of his mouth. He also had one more thing for me....


He is now working with another woman who is pretty  much where I was 2 and 1/2 years ago. She is using a meal plan, but is struggling with the eating every three hours. She feels like she is eating way too much, even though she is consuming about 1/2 the calories that she used to. Zach thinks it would be a good idea for her and I to talk. I'm all about it. Hopefully we set something up and find a time to meet and talk about what we're both doing.  Zach pointed out that he can't really talk to her about the emotional side of things, but I definitely can. I'm all about it. I would love to help someone else while they are trying to adjust to a new way of looking at food and eating. 


Anyway, this was a longer blog than I've written in a while. I'm just really excited right now. I'm so close to my goal. Janelle was even texting me after Zach and I got off the phone. She was telling me that he could not stop talking about my bodpod and goal and whatnot. 


I was smiling the whole time I was on the phone with Zach, I was smiling while telling Kelly about the conversation, I was smiling while texting Janelle, and I'm smiling now while writing this blog. Hell yea. 

Holy crap! I probably could have skipped the gym today!

This week is Bowl Week for college football and today was the Capital One bowl in Florida. You are probably wondering what this has to do with anything, and I'm going to tell you right now. Nebraska played South Carolina and it was one hell of a game. Nebraska is my team. I will drop anything to watch some Nebraska football.

Now, I always want the Huskers to win, but I also love to watch a damn good football game. This game was amazing. There were blocked extra points, missed field goals, bad plays on the 4th down, hail Mary's, fist fights, players ejected from the game, interceptions, fumbles, a million quarter back sacks, coaches having screaming matches with refs and players, and penalties in every direction you looked. Half this crap happened before half time too.

My heart was racing for the entire game, and I even had to call Janelle to have her ask Zach what certain calls meant. It was like doing cardio without leaving the couch. I should have worn my heart rate monitor. I swear I burned a good 600 calories watching the game. I was getting so worked up that I had to boil water and break out the tension tamer tea!

I feel like watching the game was my second workout of the day. I guess I could have stayed in this morning instead of going to the gym in the cold and snow.

So, if you are looking for some extra calorie burning watch a sport that you enjoy. You will surly burn more calories.

Oh yea, Nebraska lost. It was 30 to 13. South Carolina won. I'm not too sad though, it was an awesome game and a cold day. Watching the game gave me an excellent excuse to stay in and chill on the couch.

Thanks for noticing!

Some days I struggle to find things to write about that are weight loss and exercise related. I really want to keep this blog focused on things that I do in my life that deal with losing weight. Today was one of those days until I went to the gym.

My gym is usually a hot bed of strange behavior and strange people. I am typically annoyed at the people who talk to me and want to tell me how to lose weight. There was an older gentleman the other day who told me to stop using weights because I was going to get bulky. He was comparing himself lifting weights to me lifting weights. He probably has about 40 years on me....um and he's a dude. I'm pretty sure that his body reacts differently than mine. I'm a young female....not an old dude. I finally told him that I've lost over 110 pounds doing it my way and I'm going to keep doing it my way. It didn't even phase him....(and that's they first time I've tried to use the "well I've lost an ass load of weight, so I think I kinda know what I'm doing line.")

Anyway....he's not what I wanted to talk about.

I've been working out early this week and I've noticed that the gym around 8 AM is full of teachers I had in elementary school! There are a few that I see from time to time and I always wave. (Of course they know who I am after all these years. Elementary school teachers remember everyone, and they have that way of making you feel like a kid again.)

So between yesterday and today I've seen 3 of them! (I know, I'm talking about them like they are wildlife and I'm observing them in their natural habitat!) Anyway, I ended up talking to one of them. She was also one of my many swimming coaches through the years. We caught up about our families and then she told me that she's noticed how much weight I've lost. She said I look great, which I do, and asked how much I've lost.

After that we talked for a minute about how people perceive me now. I told her that everyone wants to know what I've done because they want to do it. When I tell them I've counted calories and worked out for about 2 years they lose interest. Everyone wants a quick fix.

It was nice to talk to her about all of that because she reinforced to me that I'm really doing it the right way. There are a lot of other people who also agree with what I'm doing and that always makes me feel good too. It's that nice realization that there is no quick fix and the work I'm putting in is working and other people are noticing how hard I'm working.

How many calories do you eat?

Everytime I start a new meal plan people will ask me how many calories I eat per day. I tell them how many calories I eat, and then I tell them this:

My meal plans and how many calories are based off of how much I weigh, how much lean mass I have, and how much activity I do in a day. I am never hungry because I eat every 3 hours. I trust the person (Zach) who helps me determine how many calories and grams of protein to have with my meals.

That is my little disclaimer to people because they will typically ask me this:

Can I follow the calorie count that you do? (Please refer to the statement above....I'm not telling anyone what they can and can't do for a weight loss program)

Do you get hungry? (No)

Do you have days where you eat what you want and don't follow your plan? (No, even though I have in the past, the answer is no. I can eat what I want. I just eat a specific times and I have to follow the calorie and protein limits and what not. I can typically find what I want to eat and find a way to make it fit into the plan.)

Do you ever crave junk food, ice cream, sweets, etc? (Um, hell yea, I'm human. I want junk food all the time. I dream about it. I eat it too. Just not a bunch. I will plan a meal around having that cookie, or scoop of ice cream, or whatever. I don't get to have a lot, but just enough to stop that craving. I'm sure that's why I don't flip out and pig out on junk food if I'm having a stressful day.)

I thought you should eat 1200 calories per day? You must be eating too many calories, Sarah! (My PERSONAL OPINION is that 1200 caloies is not enough. When I started, I was eating over 2000 a day. I was losing 2 pounds a week from the calories and workouts. I think 1200 calories a day is setting you up for failure, because you are not getting enough fuel to get you through the day and I've known people who try to eat 1200 a day and they BINGE whenever they get the opportunity. Again, this is my opinion.)

How long have you been doing this? Why didn't you have surgery? (Ok, it's been almost 2 years. I've lost all this weight on my own, well, with the help of workout buddies, family, and Zach and Janelle pushing me along and keeping me focused. Surgery is not for everyone. It was not for me. I'm insanely proud that I was able to do this the way that I did. Also, truth be told, I never tried to lose weight before this. I just didn't care. This was my first attempt to lose weight and changing my eating habits, drinking habits, and workout habits worked for me. Most people that have surgery have tried so many different plans, options, and whatever before going for surgery. Maybe if I had been spinning my wheels for years I would have had a different approach. Overall, I'm very glad I did what I did without surgery.)

So, these are the questions that I am most often asked when people talk about meal plans and my meal plans and what I'm doing. I repeat these things probably 10 times a week to people. Pretty soon I'm just going to print this out and hand it to people when I see them!

Yummy food.

          A few weeks ago I checked out a new cookbook. I was really excited to try it out. I even told everyone some of the recipes that I was going to make. Well, I haven’t made any of the ones I mentioned, but I did make a few different ones and I have not been disappointed!

Amazing Cookbook

            I’m not sure if I can or should repost the recipe, but I will tell you that you can find them online on the Taste of Home website. Maybe I’ll post links to them and they all have pictures too. That can’t be bad can it?

            The first recipe I made for me, my mom, sister, and brother-in-law. It was onion-apricot pork chops. I figured since pork chops and apples are so good that pork chops and other fruits must be good too. It was fantastic. A serving was one pork chop with the onions and apricots on top. It was 296 calories per serving and there were only 4 grams of saturated fat per serving.

            The next recipe I tried was actually a desert. I made it to serve to my sisters, brothers in law, nieces, nephews, and mom. It was caramel toffee ice cream pie. This was also amazing and it didn’t take a lot of time to make. It said it served 10. Honestly, that would have been 10 big pieces. We made it serve 12. I did take my own picture of this one because I was so proud of how nice it turned out! For 10 servings it would be 244 calories per slice and 3 grams of saturated fat.

This was amazing. Make it, eat it, love it. 

            Yesterday I made southwest turkey stew. Also amazing. It didn’t take long to make. It did have to cook in the slow cooker for about 5 hours, but it was seriously easy to make. I like spicy foods, so next time I will add more chili powder and cumin. Also, it said it would make 6 servings, but it was really like 5.5. It was really good and since the weather has been so crappy lately, a nice stew really hit the spot. Anyway, a serving is 1 and ¼ cup and has 238 calories and 1 gram saturated fat.

            There is one more recipe I came across in the cookbook that I have made in the past. It is chicken pesto pizza. I have made this recipe a million times. It is wonderful! The recipe says that it makes one pizza, but the chicken, peppers, and onion could really be spread onto 2 or 3 pizzas, depending on high you like your toppings piled on your pizza. If you follow the recipe and cut the pizza into 8 slices each slice will be 293 calories and have 3 grams of saturated fat.

            I will continue to make recipes from the book. It’s nice to find some new things to eat. I will continue to let you all know if they are any good. So far I’ve been pretty good at picking recipes that have been awesome. http://www.tasteofhome.com/

This gum tastes like ice cream!

          I have discovered so many foods and snacks that I never knew existed. I guess when you can’t eat or drink whenever you want; you come up with new favorite things. My latest favorite thing is gum that tastes like ice cream. Not only does is taste like ice cream, it tastes like mint chocolate chip! I love all things ice cream and I consider myself an expert on all things ice cream, so take my word for it when I say it is awesome. 

          Also, people ask me from time to time what I eat. It’s hard to tell people, because I eat what I want, but I eat in smaller portions at certain times. The other day I was thinking about some of my new favorite foods and snacks and thought I would share with you some of my favorites.

***All of these things are pretty low calorie and the all have no more than 2 grams of saturated fat per serving.***

1. Whole wheat eggos or low fat eggos. Serving size for both is 2 eggos and they are 140 calories per serving.
2. Laughing cow cheese wedges, all varieties. All flavors are 35 calories per wedge and it is great with crackers.
3. Craisin 100 calorie packs. This is pretty self explanatory for serving size and calories.
4. Flavored Craisins, especially the Cherry Flavored and Pomegranate Flavored varieties. Serving size 1/3 cup and they are 140 calories per serving.
5. Planters NUT-rition, Digestive Health Mix. Serving size 3 tablespoons and it is 140 calories per serving.
6. Planters NUT-rition, Energy Mix. Serving Size ¼ cup and it is 190 calories per serving.
7. Morningstar Farms Grillers Tomato and Basil Pizza Burgers. 120 calories/burger and these are freaking awesome with some fresh tomatoes and other veggies, seriously.
8. Morningstar Farms Grillers California Turk’y Burger. 90 calories/burger and these are also awesome with fresh veggies and Sweet Thai Chili Sauce.
9. Clif Bars, all varieties. 240 calories/serving. These look gross, but they are fantastic, I promise.
10. Greek Yogurt, all varieties, all brands. I’ve tried a lot of different brands and they are all good. I’ve also found different brands with different calories. Some were 120 calories/serving and others have been 11o, 100, and even 90 calories/serving.
11. Extra Mint Chocolate Chip Gum. This stuff is amazing and I chew a lot of gum between my eating times.

So, these are some of my new favorites. I feel like there are more, but I can’t think of them right now. Maybe you eat some of these things or maybe you know of other delicious things I have not come upon!

 I made myself laugh while I was making this list because I could rattle off the calories without even looking. I guess I eat a lot of the same foods over and over! I wasn’t even going to put the calorie content of anything, but I knew all of them without even going to look, so I decided I might as well put it out there!

I also feel like this makes me look like I eat super healthy. Truthfully, sometimes I do and sometimes I don’t. Like I said, I often get asked what I eat and I think sometimes when I say pizza, Taco Bell, Chipotle, etc, etc people look at me like I’m lying. All I can tell them is that it’s really portion control so I have the freedom to eat what I want!