Thanks so much! I'd love to stick around and help those who are working towards their goal. I am hoping that my food log and diary will help inspire those as well. When I've reached my goal I'll be sure to be posting pictures as well, as that is what really motivates me! You've started your journey and with determination and careful planning you'll be sure to achieve your goal of 170! Also saw that you answered a Q&A that I must have missed from the sticky in this section, so I thought I'd go ahead and answer it as well
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Q. What is your current height and weight?
A. 5'6, 129.8lbs
Q. If you were at an ideal weight now, what would that weight be?
A. 125lbs...I think. I say I think because I have never been 125lbs as an adult and am not sure whether it would flatter me or not.
Q. At what weight would you like to be at four months from now?
A. 125lbs
Q. Why do you want to lose weight?
A. I want to look GREAT not good in a bikini.
Q. Do you want to lose weight for a specific life event such as wedding or reunion? If so, when is that event?
A. I do have a mini reunion coming up in July and that would be fun to look at, as last time they saw me I was a good 15lbs heavier.
Q. What obstacles could get between you and your weight loss goals?
A. I'll start justifying why baked potato chips are "ok"...
Q. Why do you think that you now have a weight problem?
A. Let's just say my stomach isn't as flat as it could be.
Q. What lifestyle changes do you think would help you lose weight?
A. Healthy eating. Focussing on whole grains, vegetables, lean proteins, skim dairy products, less sodium in my diet.
Q. Have you lost weight in the past? If so, what has worked in the past to help you lose weight?
A. The only thing that truly has helped me in the past is The French Diet. That's it. Nothing else works for me.
Q. Why do you believe that you did not lose weight or you gained the weight back?
A. I am filled with determination this time round. No cheating!
Q. What, if anything, has not worked for you in the past in helping you to lose weight? Why do you think it did not work?
A. Low carb diets like South Beach, Atkins - both those point me in a direction where I justify that eating a whole lot of avocados is ok (as opposed to other leafy green vegetables), Calorie Counting: I don't like to think about how many calories I have left...creates pressure, Body for Life: 6 meals a day and I overeat at all of them.
Q. Would you try writing down all food and drink consumed for a given period of time?
A. Keeping a journal to help me on my way and track where I could stand to improve.
Q. Do you cook at home often? If so, what do you cook?
A. I have started to. Much easier to control what you're eating.
Q. How often do you go out to eat? Where do you go?
A. 3x a week.
Q. What are your three favorite foods?
A. Tortilla chips with guac, burritos, anything Mexican, Sushi, Italian sausage pizza and hand cut fries.
Q. What are your three favorite restaurants?
A. Blu Coral, Adobo Grill and Spacca Napoli.
Q. What are three things you can do differently when it comes to food?
A. DRINK MORE WATER...I love my tea.
Q. If you woke up tomorrow and your body was exactly the way you want it, what would be different?
A. My stomach would be flat and I'd have a waist.
Q. Do you eat when you are not hungry?
A. It has been known to happen...especially when I am exceedingly stressed.
Q. Do you binge eat (large amounts at a time)?
A. I used to have a YEARS where I'd shove chocolate down my throat to soothe whatever I was going through. Since I started working full-time, I don't do that as much. I don't even snack that much in the evenings anymore.
Q. Do you hide your food or eat in secret?
A. I hide my chocolate (86% dark) - out of sight, out of mind.
Q. Do you eat when you are sad, nervous, or depressed?
A. ABSOLUTELY!!!
Q. Do you eat as a reward?
A. Sure do. Especially when I see that I've lost a little bit of weight, I start overdoing it with the food as though I can afford to do that because I've been good.
Q. Do you eat while watching TV or using the computer?
A. Yes, I do it at work for breakfast and lunch and sometimes at dinner time.
Q. What do you normally eat for a meal?
A. Which meal? Breakfast: wholegrain bread with fat free cream cheese and sugarfree jam, Lunch: lean protein with salad and steamed veggies; Dinner: carbs (beans, whole wheat spaghetti, etc.) with a salad and veggies. Dessert: Fruit/1 piece of dark chocolate >70%
Q. What type of snacks do you eat?
A. Usually an apple, sometimes broccoli and cauliflower.
Q. In terms of exercise, what, if anything, are you currently doing?
A. Not much. I walk 25 minutes to the train in the morning and in the evening as well.
Q. Where do you go for exercise? A local public gym? School/work gym? Home?
A. Walk to restaurants, to the train, to the bus.
Q. What, if anything, are your three favorite types of exercise?
A. Dancing, dancing and more dancing. Anytime. Anywhere. Reggae bars are a lot of fun because everyone is dancing. I like swing dancing too though.
Q. What is your daily/weekly/monthly/yearly motivation to move towards your goals?
A. A pair of True Religion jeans. I'll settle for William Rast as well though
. And a really cute bikini so I too can strut my stuff by looking like a beach babe
