100 Days To A New Me!

S

Shandellejs

New member
Hi, I am new here and I decided that the only way that I am going to stay focused on reaching my weight loss goals is if I keep a journal. My starting weight was 191 in August and I am currently 169, so I have lost 22 lbs in 5 months. I am trying to be more focused about losing weight now, so I am making myself a 100 day goal! If I manage to lose 2 lbs a week, then I will be at my goal weight in 100 days from now! Please feel free to give any advice that might be helpful!

Day One
I am a server at night and I have a three-year old daughter, so my schedule is kind of crazy. I stay up very late, but then I usually get up early with my daughter. This weekend my daughter is staying with my sister, so I slept in until 11 am this morning. I have to be at work at 3, so this is what I have ate so far today.

11:30 Skinny Caramel Latte 130 cals
1:00 6 in Ham on Honey Oat Bread 375 cal
1:30 Mini bag of popcorn 100 calories

Because my schedule is crazy, when I go to work at three, it is hard for me to get enough calories. I am planning on eating the rest of the footlong sandwich before I go to work, which will be another 375 calories and then I will eat a protein bar while at work which will add 210 calories. This will only put my daily calories at 1190. Since I burn alot while I am working, I should be getting at least 1200-1500 calories. On the days that I do not have to go to work until 5, I usually get enough calories for the day. I haven't been doing any additional excercise, but this week my goal is to do cardio for at least 30 min for 3x a week. I know this is not much, but I have a very hard time getting motivated to excercise, so I am starting my goal very small and I will progress to doing more cardio and then some weight training. 100 days isn't very long considering that I have been overweight for 12 years now. I have had some success in the past losing weight. Two years ago I weighed 153, so I know that I can do this! But, I am one of those people who are always either losing weight or gaining weight. I have a hard time with the in between. I realize that I have to change the way I live for the rest of my life. I am really focusing on the mental and emotional reasons that I struggle with my weight. It is a daily challenge for me, but I am determined that 100 days from now I will reach my goal!
 
:waving:Hi there! Welcome to your diary!
Wow, you are busy working and taking care of your precious daughter. I know your schedule is bound to be wacked!

My best advice to you is to make your calories count more. Less (if any) "convenience" foods, and more fruit, veggies, and protein. In the morning an egg white on toast will do you well, with protein and carbs in one go.

Glad you have an idea of how many calories you need to be consuming! Very important, as I have recently learned by not eating enough and therefore getting stuck on a nasty plateau.

Exercise is also very important. Work your daughter into it, if you can - put her in a bike seat and go for a ride, or walk your neighbor's dog, or whatever. Kids also love to dance!

You can definitely do this. Do it the RIGHT way, the healthy way. Build good habits one by one and add them in, so it is easier for you to sustain them. If you try and change everything overnight, I think there is a greater risk of failure.

Best wishes on your journey!:auto:
ABBA
 
Thank you for your helpful advice! So this is what I ate today:

11:30 Skinny Caramel Latte 130 cals
1:00 6 in Ham on Honey Oat Bread 375 cal
1:30 Mini bag of popcorn 100 calories
2:30 banana 90 cals
6:30 Protein Bar 210
8:30 Flaxseed Oatmeal Cookies 130
10:30 Flaxseed oatmela cookies 195( I ate 1.5 servings)

Total Calories Today 1230

I don't know if I should plan my meals the day before or if it is okay to just eat whatever I feel like eating, as long as what I eat is nutritious. I have tried planning my meals in advance, but then I never want to eat what I plan, and then I feel guilty because I feel like I have "cheated" when in reality, I still ate just as healthy, I just didn't eat the planned menu. I don't want to set too many rules for myself because I can get very discouraged if I don't follow every rule 100%. I think that I will try to have a general idea about what I am going to eat the next day but if I add something or don't eat something, I won't obsess over it. Well tomorrow I am up at 9am so I will get at least 7 hours of sleep tonight!
 
Hi again
It is great that you're writing down what you eat, so you can see where changes need to be made. I am FAR from a nutrition expert, but it does look (so far) like you are still taking in quite a bit of sugar/sugary carbs. I can totally relate, as I happen to have a very LARGE sweet tooth :biggrinjester:
Also, any time you can get "real" protein via actual foods, it is likely better than just a protein bar. The problem with so many of the convenience foods it that they are chock full o' sugar, and laced with god-knows-what-else.

Anyway, keep trying! Research. Don't panic. You can do this, and you will feel and look fantastic!

Cheers
ABBA
 
Egg Beaters 80 cal
Turkey Sausage 90 cal
Toast 130 cal
Coffee (Creamer) 40 cal
Orange Mango Banana Smoothie 250 cal
Sweet Potato 150 cal
Toast 130
1 egg 80 cal
Popcorn 100 cal
Homeade Chicken Noodle Soup 120 cal
Banana 90 cal
Total 1130 cal


So today I was able to eat a little better but I didn't get enough calories for the day. I am actually debating on whether or not I should eat something now, but I think that I am just going to forget about those calories. Today I felt great! I haven't been very hungry today. I have been eating very small meals throughout the day which I think has really helped. Today after I ate a sweet potato I was too full to eat anything until an hour later. I think that I need to plan my meals a little better. I do get way too much sugar and not enough veggies. Tomorrow I am going to plan out some healthy quick meals, so that I don't have to sacrifice nutrition when I am so busy! After Jan. 5th, I am only going to work 3 nights a week, so I will have much more time to excercise and eat healthy!

I have been thinking a lot about how my eating affects my little girl. From the time she was about 18 months old, she became accustom to fast food. As soon as I would pull away from the window, she would start pointing at the food and asking for a bite. I would always hand her a french fry or a piece of whatever I was eating. Now that she is three, when we drive by McDonalds, she starts pointing and asking if we can go there. I am lucky that even though she has been introduced to fast food, she still loves fruits and veggies. It is so important for me to be a good example to her! When I eat healthy, I feed her healthy. But when I eat fast food, I feed her fast food. It is terrible to think about how many cheeseburger she has already consumed in her short lifetime! Even though I haven't been a good example in the past, I am making a change now! My goal is that my family completely gives up fast food forever! I am more focused and determined than I have ever been to lose weight! I am going to succeed at getting healthy and changing not only my life, but also changing my family's life forever!
 
January 1, 2009
Weight Lost since August - 22 lbs
Only 27 lbs to go!

Yesterday I bought a digital scale. I have been weighing in on the ancient dial scales forever but I really didn't feel like I was getting an accurate weight. I decided that seeing the actual amount would give me more encouragement! I discovered that my old scale was weighing me in at 5 lbs less than the digital scale. So now I actually weigh 173.8. I was a little discouraged when I weighed in the first time on the new scale, so I checked to see what the old scale said, and according to the old scale, I weighed 168, which was a 1 lb loss. My pants are getting looser and I feel thinner! When I put on weight, even 5 lbs, you can see it in my face. Since I started losing weight, my face has thinned out a lot. My husband even noticed that I look thinner!

I haven't went to the store yet, so I don't have a lot of veggies or fruit, so I have been eating a lot of carbs! Last night I did eat out of boredom instead of hunger. I had a bag of trail mix in front of me, and I hadn’t eaten enough calories for the day, so I just kept getting handfuls of trail mix......Well, I just did the math on how much trail mix I ate last night. Wow! It was pretty scary how many calories I consumed in so little food. I probably only ate a cups worth of trail mix. I did the same thing last week. From now on, I will not eat one thing of trail mix unless it is in pre-portioned bags. I would never have eaten seven bags of trail mix, but since it was just an open bag, I kept eating and eating. I am a little disappointed in myself, but my indulgence last night is just a reminder of how careful I have to be about what I eat! On the weight watcher plan, they allow 35 extra weekly points, so I am just counting the points towards that. Which means that I will not be able to go over my points any day for the rest of the week. I am confident that I can stick to 24 pts for the rest of the week.

I am not officially doing weight watchers but I am so familiar with their plan, and I had so much success in the past with weight watchers (I lost 50+lbs two years ago!) that I am going to count points along with calories for what I am eating. I think weight watchers is great for accountability, but I think that I am going to try to continue to lose weight on my own as long as I am still having success. I have have paid so much money to Weight Watchers already, I don't want to give them anymore of my money! It is amazing it think about how much money I have wasted just to lose weight!

So this is what I have had to eat today so far. I still haven't done any cardio this week. Maybe I will step away from the computer and get on my treadmill. I hate the treadmill though!

Char grilled Chicken Salad 3 pts (180 cal)
Fat free Honey Must. 2 pt (120 cal)
Coffee 2 pts (80 cal)
 
January 1, 2009
Weight Lost -22 lbs
Only 27 lbs left to lose!
Goal Date: March 22, 2009

Well I finally exercised today! I did a cardio workout video for 20 mins and then I walked on the treadmill 10 min., and then I did a ten minute dance workout. I had so much fun and I felt amazing afterwards. I actually can't wait until I can workout tomorrow. I hope that I can continue to have this much motivation to exercise!

Today I went shopping to check out all the New Year's Day sales. I wanted to buy myself some pants since my weight has gone up and down so much, I only have a couple of pairs of pants I can wear right now. I just couldn't buy clothes in the size that I need right now. I refuse to think of myself as a size 14! Over the last three years I was mostly wearing a size 12 and at one point I was even able to wear a few size 10s. It has only been in 2008 that I let myself gain so much weight that I couldn't fit into any of my clothes. I look at all the clothes in my closet that I would love to wear again and I wonder why didn't I stop eating when I realized that my pants didn't fit anymore? One of my problems was that I still had pants that fit me in larger sizes. This time, when I get back into size 12, I am getting rid of all the clothes that I wear now! So today, instead of buying pants that fit me now, I bought myself size 10 jeans! Now I will have to lose weight so that I can wear my new jeans! It was so exciting picking out a size 10! I spent a lot of time choosing the perfect pair! I even imagined what it would be like when I lose all this weight and I am able to shop in smaller sizes all the time! I can't wait!

So this is what I ate today. Also one thing that is very important to me is that I get enough water. I am drinking at least 80 ounces of water a day. I think this is really helping me not feel hungry throughout the day! I still am not eating the most nutritious meals but I am trying to get at least 5 serving of veggies a day and stick to 24 pts (1200-1400 cal) per day. My goal for right now is to do cardio at least 3x a week for at least 30 min.

Toast 2 pts (130 cal)
Char grilled Chicken Salad 3 pts (180 cal)
Fat free Honey Must. 2 pt (120 cal)
Coffee 2 pts 80 cal
Salad- 2 cups lettuce 0 pts(16 cal)
1 oz cheese 2 pts (70 cal)
1 tbsp bacon bits 1 pt (25 cal)
Veggie Pizza 5 pts per slice (270 cal)
5 pts (270 cal)
Coffee 1 pt (40 cal)
1 Cup Pumpkin 2 pt (80cal)
2 tbsp cool whip 1 pt (20 cal)
Total 25 pts (1300 cal)
 
Day 21
Friday, January 2

Today's Weight 173.8
Total Weight Lost This Week – 2 lbs
Total Weight Lost Since Day One – 5 lbs
Total Weight Lost Since August - 21 lbs

This week has been amazing! Although I have been keeping a private journal for three weeks now, this has been the first week that I shared that journal with others. Telling others what I am eating and how I am doing has really helped me to stay motivated. This week the motivation paid off because I lost 2 lbs! In the past I have let myself get discouraged when I only lost 2lbs. But now I realize that 2 lbs is a very healthy weight loss for one week. As long as I continue to lose 2 lbs a week, I will be at my goal weight in 100 days! This week I did better staying within my calories and points. I even exercised once this week and I will probably exercise today as well. Next week I am really going to focus on getting more exercise! Everyday I feel like I am getting closer and closer to reaching my goal! I also feel like I am getting stronger and more motivated! Keeping a daily journal has been a great way to keep myself accountable. I am also praying and seeking the Lord to give me the strength to continue to overcome my struggle with food. I realize that most of this battle for me is because I turn to food to fulfill all my needs. Until I am healed from the internal struggle to put food first in my life, I will never have lifelong freedom!

What I ate today so far:
1 egg 2 pts (80 cal)
Oatmeal 2 pts (130 cal)
Veggie Pizza 5 pts (270 cal)
Veggie Pizza 5 pts (270 cal)
 
Day 21
Friday, January 2
Weight 173.8 (New Scale)

This is what I ate on Jan. 2nd:

1 egg 2 pts (80 cal)
Oatmeal 2 pts (130 cal)
Veggie Pizza 5 pts (270 cal)
Veggie Pizza 5 pts (270 cal)
Veggie Pizza 5 pts (270 cal)
Trail Mix 3 pts (120 cal)
Coffee 1 pt (30 cal)
Protein Bar 4 pts (180 cal)
½ serving trail mix 1 pt (60 cal)
½ serving reduced fat chips 1 pt (60 cal)
1 cup pumpkin w/cool whip 2 pts (120 cal)
Total 31 pts (1590 cal)
 
Day 22
Saturday, January 3rd
Weight 173.0
Total Weight Lost this week –0.8 lbs
Total Weight Lost since August -21.8 lbs

I am down 0.8 since yesterday! I know that it is not much, and I probably shouldn’t be weighing everyday! But it is still encouraging to see a loss on the scale!

Breakfast Burrito- 2 low carb tortillas 2 pts (160 cal)
½ cup eggbeaters 1 pt (60 cal)
Cheese 1 pt (60 cal)
½ cup tomatoes w/ diced peppers 0 pts (20 cal)
Trail Mix 3 pts (120 cal)
Coffee 1 pt (40 cal)
Chicken Taco 3 pt (170 cal)
Vegetable Noodle Soup 1 pt (120 cal)
String Cheese 2 pts (70 cal)
Protein Smoothie- Yogurt 1 pt (100 cal)
1 cup milk 2 pt (110 cal)
Protein Powder 2 pt (110 cal)
Granola Bar 4 pts (190 cal)
Starbucks Skinny Caramel Latte 3 pts (130 cal)
V8 1 pt (70 cal)
Total 27 pts (1530 cal)
 
Day 23
Sunday, January 4

I felt pretty low energy all day today. My legs have been extremely sore after working four shifts in a row and exercising. I really hope that as my body gets in better shape that I will not be in so much pain after a shift. I also think that as I lose weight, I won’t be putting as much strain on my body. I am carrying around 30 extra pounds all day long, and I am sure that my body doesn’t like it! Next week I am only working two shifts. I am thrilled that I will get a little time to recuperate, but I am also concerned that I will not be as active and that I may not burn as many calories as I have been the last couple weeks. I am going to have to get serious about getting my cardio on the days that I don’t work!

I am setting a new goal for myself. My new goal is to weigh 160 by Valentine’s Day. In order to achieve that goal, I need to consistently lose 2 lbs every week! This may be a little challenging, but I think that I can do it! I will definitely have to get my cardio in if I want to reach my goal! My husband and I haven’t been on a date without my little girl since my birthday in August. So I would love to go out with him looking amazing! I have some really cute clothes that I haven’t been able to wear in months that I would love to wear that night! Or, I may even have to buy myself something new to wear. I feel like this time I am actually going to reach my goal weight!

I only ate 3 servings of veggies and 3 servings of fruit today, but I did get plenty of servings of dairy! My main focus is staying within my point’s budget and drinking plenty of water, but I would also like to make sure that I am getting the right kinds of foods. I am not going to be too strict on myself because I could never stick to a strict diet long term. At some point, maybe when I am halfway to my goal, I will try to focus on getting the correct percentages of fats/proteins/carbs. I don’t even know how to calculate the percentages, so I am not going to worry about that right now. I am in my fourth week of changing my way of looking and feeling about the food I eat food. I am making choices that are going to change my life forever. I am really proud of myself for having the motivation to overcome this struggle I am almost halfway there!

Coffee 2 pts (90 cal)
Banana 2 pts (90 cal)
WW Oatmeal Cookie 1 pt (90 cal)
Salad 2 pts - 1 tbsp 2% Milk Cheese (20 cal)
1 tbsp bacon bits (25 cal)
1 Tbsp Light Ranch (40 cal)
Strawberry Banana Protein Smoothie 4 pts - Protein Powder (110 cal)
1 cup Frozen Strawberries (50 cal)
½ Banana (45 cal)
String Cheese 2 pts (70 cal)
Tuna Salad – 1 can tuna 3 pts (150 cal)
1 tbsp light mayo 45
Bread 1 pt (100 cal)
Snickers Marathon Bar 5 pts (280 cal)
Soup 1 pt
Total 24 pts (1205 cal)
Fruit and Veggie Servings 5
Dairy Servings 3
Fat Servings 2
Water 64 oz
 
Day 24

Monday, January 5
Weight 173
Total lost this week – 8
Total lost since day 1 –5.8
Total lost since August – 21.8

Today was one of those days where you really just don’t want to get out of the bed all day. It was for me anyways. I’m not sure why I felt so unmotivated today. I am usually a very positive person but today I felt really depressed. I couldn’t even think of one good reason for me to feel so bad, but I managed to feel awful all day long. I should be feeling amazing right now. It has been a really, really long time since I have been able to eat healthy and see a consistent weight loss for 4 weeks. I watched Oprah today. She spent the entire show talking about her struggle with food. I worry, am I in the same boat as her? Will I always go back and forth between gaining and losing but never maintaining? I have known my husband for nine years and he says that he has never seen me at a consistent weight. I keep looking back at my previous attempts to lose weight and I wonder what happened. Why haven’t I ever succeeded at getting to my goal weight? Three years ago I was almost there. I was down to 153 and I only had 10 maybe 15 lbs to lose before I made it to my goal weight. I was so close. Why did I fail? Why did I let myself gain 40 lbs back? What makes this attempt any different than the last one? Yeah, I am motivated and determined right now but how will I feel in four more weeks? I guess all these questions remind me that my battle is not just what I eat. My battle is physical, emotional and spiritual. I have to rely on my faith to give me strength. Any prayers would be appreciated!

Thanks,

js
 
Day 24

What I ate today. I feel like I am doing better at not eating as much sugary carbs and empty calories. I am drinking a lot of water, but I also drink a lot of diet sodas. Okay, so I know that I should drink tea or water instead, but as long as I drink enough water, are they really all that bad?

Coffee 1 pt (60 cal)
Breakfast Burritos 4 pts- 2 low carb tortillas (160 cal)
½ cup eggbeaters (60 cal)
Cheese (40 cal)
½ cup tomatoes w/ diced peppers 0 pts (20 cal)
Salad 3pts - 1 tbsp 2% Milk Cheese (40 cal)
1 tbsp bacon bits (25 cal)
2 Tbsp Light Ranch (80 cal)
1 oz chicken 1 pt (50 cal)
2 boiled eggs 4 pts (180 cal)
Tortilla 2 pt (80 cal)
W/ cheese, sour cream and tomatoes 3 pts (85 cal)
WW Oatmeal Cookie 1 pt (90 cal)
String Cheese 2 pts (70)
Fiber One Pop Tart 3 pts (150 cal)
Coffee 1 pt (40 cal)
½ serving of 100 cal popcorn 1 pt (100 cal)

Total 26 pts (1280 cal)

6 servings veggies
0 servings fruit
2 servings dairy
79 oz of water
At least 4 coke zeros :(
 
Hi there! I'm looking at your journal and I have to say I'm impressed. The food choices and all are coming along, bu thwat I really like is the fact that you are putting your thoughts out. Sometimes saying a thing out loud (so to speak), gives it some life and allows you to get something out of it. Soemtimes even if it isn't something you really want to say... (we all have those too don't we...)

Keep doing what you are doing. It looks really good.

BTW, I have no doubt you will look amazing for Valentine's day!!
 
Thanks! I am realizing that the only way that I am going to have successful lifelong weightloss is if I fix the root problem! I feel like this attempt is different. I am really reaching out to people around me for help. I also changed my mindset about "quick" weight loss. I know that this time I am in this for the long run and the only way for me to keep myself motivated is expressing my feelings along the way! I feel like as long as I am journaling, I will stay on track!

js
 
Day 25

Day 25 (I am a few days behind on my postings but I keep a personal diary of what I eat with me at all times so that I can write down what I eat throughout the day!)

Tuesday, January 6

½ cup cereal w/1% milk 2 pts
3 oz chicken 2 pts (100 cal)
Whole Wheat pasta with ½ tbsp olive oil 5 pts (240 cal)
1-cup salad w/ fat free honey must 2 pts
Santa Fe Chicken w/whole wheat pasta 4 pts
Coffee 1 pt
String Cheese 2 pts
WW Oatmeal Cookie 1 pt
Sweet potato 2 pts
Total 26 pts
Weekly Points Available 27
 
Day 26

Day 26
Wednesday, January 7

Weight 172.4
Weight lost this week –1.4
Weight lost since August –22 lbs
Weight lost since Day 1 –6.4 lbs

Egg Sandwich
Egg Beaters 1 pt
1 tbsp 2 % milk cheddar cheese 1 pt
1 tbsp light mayo 1 pt
Fiber One Double Fiber Bread 1 pt
Coffee 1 pt
Ham Sandwich
Ham 1 pt
Fiber One Double Fiber Bread 1 pt
Mayo 1 pt
WW Oatmeal cookie 1 pt
Sweet Potato 2 pt
3 oz chicken w/ 1-cup spinach 2 pts
½ cup stir-fry veggies 0 pts
1 tsp olive oil 1 pt
Salad
2 cups lettuce, tomato and cucumber 0 pts
1 tbsp 2% milk cheddar cheese 1 pt
1 boiled egg 2 pts
2 tbsp light Ranch dressing 2 pts
Toast 2 pts
Cookies (8-12 small cookies) 12 pts

Total 33 pts
24 daily pts + 10 weekly pts
Weekly Points Available 17
 
Day 27

Last night, I went a little overboard on some cookies. I still had a couple points left for the day, so I decided that I would eat 3 cookies. Before I knew it, I had eaten a lot of cookies(probably 12). I still have weekly points, so I don't feel like I am a complete failure, but I am still disapointed in myself. I am back going strong today and I have still lost 1.5 lbs for the week. I know that even if I have one day where I overdo it, I can get right back on track the next day. Despite the cookies, I am feeling very motivated today! I have been committed to changing my life for almost 30 days! I am starting to fit into some of my old clothes! I still have a full wadrobe of size 12 that I can't wait to get into! I may have a long way to go, but I know that I can do this! It doesn't matter if it takes me 300 days instead of 100, what matters is that I stick with it and continue to live a healthy lifestyle for the rest of my life!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top