Penguinita's Weight Loss Diary

Penguinita

Penguinita

New member
Weight-Loss Diary Entry 1:

I've been on this weight loss journey for over a year now, and have found myself hovering in the low 150s during the past month and a half and its driving me nuts!

Some background info:
I have been always a little chunky all my life. Something like 10 pounds over weight all the time. When I was 15 i received the Richard Simmons exercise tapes as gift and lost my excess weight. Unfortunately, after I lost the weight I never thought about keeping up an active lifestyle. Needless to say that I started to pack on the pounds, not just 10 but so much more.
As a freshman in a junior college I was in the high 170's and my boss and I made a pact to do the Bob Greene diet together. It kinda worked, except I was always hungry and it was hard to find the time to exercise.
After graduating with an A.A. I started going to my state's University- Rutgers. The stress of finding out what I really want to do with my life and school work I packed on more pounds. Shortly after my winter break my family and I took a cousin who was visiting from the Dominican Republic sightseeing in NY and took some pictures. When I saw those pictures that I was in I became depressed. It was at that point that i honestly believed my life was meaningless and had no value. I started seeing a counselor who not only encouraged me to loose weight, but to help me find out what I wanted to do in life. She really changed my outlook on life. After that I started researching everything and anything that had to do with weight loss and made a commitment.
I'm not going to say that after my epiphany everything went dandy. I fell a couple of times, but instead of feeling bad for myself I picked my self up and did what I was supposed to. It is still hard to find time to exercise, but I do what I can at home and have begun experimenting with new DVDs.

Starting Stats-
Date started- February 2009
Height:5 ft 4in
Weight: 198 lbs
Goal: Loose .5-1lb a week
Goal Weight: 135
Dream Goals: Be able to run and not be in pain, Be able to shop and have it not be a chore and finally be comfortable in my own skin.
Time frame: None, I didn't think creating a deadline will help me but I felt it will hurt my weight loss instead.
Support: Family is a big support, but also the mindset I have now which wasn't there before I decided to loose weight.
The reality of things: Well, I think it is very realistic. There is no set timeframe. The final goal will be reached when I get there, not Day XX, XX,XXXX
Starting Date: February 2009

------------------

Today
May 2, 2010
Height: '5"4
Weight: 153
Weight Lost: 45lbs
Goal: Loose 1lb a week
Goal Weight: 135
Dream Goals: *Same as above* & Be mostly muscular when I get to 135. Not like a body builder, more like a gymnast, Be a size 7 (Last time I was that size was at 13)
Reality of Goal: The being muscular like a gymnast might be pushing it, so I'll be more than happy being toned.

* When I weighed myself I went down some pounds. Lately I've been very strict with my diet and exercise and that seems to be working. However I have weighed at another week higher. But the numbers still don't add up. Logically a lb is 3500 cal, I've been loosing only something like .5lb to 1lb a week when my records have me eating 1500 cal, and exercising for an hour 4 times a week. According to my records I should be loosing 1.5lbs to 2lbs.

In this forum I keep coming across this concept; Motivation is key. Thank you forum for that

Gotta stick with it!!

Edit:

I forgot to mention that I only weigh myself once or twice a month. I hate the scale!
And the first 2 pictures are in February 2009, the last was today from my phone. I also still don't like taking pictures
I'm still taking this one day at a time.

Another note- my clothes on my picture are baggy because that's how most of my clothes are. It is very expensive to replace clothes that no longer fit, so I'll still wear some clothes that are somewhat baggy if there is nothing else to wear.
 
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My eating habits are as follows: (Its so funny that my meals have not changed much in a year)

Breakfast Options, all are followed by two cups of water:

1. Cereal w/ Soy milk or Lactaid
2. Oatmeal w/ raisins
3. Egg white omelet w/ onions, garlic, spinach and oregano, a slice of toasted whole wheat bread w/ humus or w/ (1/3) tsp of butter.
4. Scrambled eggs (1 whole egg and 1 egg white), two slices of whole wheat bread, 1 tbsp of ketchup and a pinch of salt

Lunch Options, almost always followed by a cup of water and coffee:

If I'm home:
1. Tofu stirrfried with veggies in 1 tbsp of olive oil
2. A medium green plantain boiled and mashed, two slices of salami
3. Cereal w/ soy milk or lactaid
4. Oatmeal, crackers w/ hummus

If I'm at school:
1. Turkey sandwich w/ no cheese or mayo
2. Falafel sandwich
3. Anything from the subway fit menu

Dinner only option:
*What ever my grandmother or mother cooked, usually
- 1 cup of rice (yellow, white, brown, coconut)
- meat, one piece (chicken, beef, pork or fish)
- Beans, 1/4 cup (black, chick peas, pigeon peas, others)

Snacks 2 times a day:
- Small box of raisins (40 cal each) or big box (130 cal)
- Thin mint, 1 small cookie (about 28 cal)
- Hershey small individual portions (about 80 cal each)


Calories I try to maintain 1201-1500 a day.

There are days, (like today where I am so busy I forget about breakfast and have a big brunch). Those days usually throw my calories off whack.
 
May 3, 2010

Exercise:

Walking around campus

Food:

Breakfast- Medium Banana (105 cals)
Lunch- Eggs (2) (180), Bread roll (about 250 cals), Ketchup (20 cals)
Snack- Starbucks Iced coffee w/ soy milk, Grande (120 Cals)
Choco Chip muffin- *Couldn't resist X.X* (about 300)
Dinner- 1 cup of white rice (205), 2 small pieces of chicken breast fried (184)
Snack- Cappucino (45 cal), Raisin box small x2 (80)

Cups of water: 7

Total calories today: 1519

Summary of today: Grade C+

I woke up late and had to rush to school, that is why I only had a banana for breakfast. I notice that if I don't get a good breakfast the rest of my day is out of whack, I will most likely give in to cravings as well. Amazing to see how important a balanced breakfast is for me.
Calories are just a tiny bit over, considering the crap I ate.
I'm under in water, I could just drink another cup now but it is more important to space out my 8 cups through out the day instead of gulping them in one sitting.
No real exercise. There was a carnival like event at Rutgers today so I walked around some, observing only (though I wanted to get some of the free food).
As for my mood, I have been stressed for a while. I have finals coming up, all of which are in ONE day. I have my drivers exam the Friday after my finals and I have my graduation the week after. Not to mention a ton of other stressors. I really wish I lived in a quiet place where I could meditate, maybe that will ease my mind.
I really would have given myself a C, but I managed to make my limit (19 calories is nothing) even with the unusual day.


Side Note: Most of my calorie counting comes from Caloriecount.about.com and the labels on the food
 
Hello Penguinita!

Came across your diary and thought I would say hi. 45 pounds is great, I wish you luck to your weightloss goal. I started at the same weight as you, and my goal is to get and stay between 130 and 140. Except I'm 5'2 almost 5'3. I joined this forum early march after I discovered how much I really weighed, or might have been mid march, anyway, I have found that this site is a great support system. I've lost 13 pounds since then, and I honestly think that this site help keep me in check. It took me a little while to get responses, but I think it usually is because of times people are on, but once you start bouncing around and getting to know some members then there is some much that is offerred to you from suggestions to encouragement. I even rant sometimes, and this forum makes me feel so much better to know that I am not the only one going through. So good luck to you and cannot wait to see you progress.
 
Hey Njoyabl,

Wow 13lbs is awesome, I'm glad you found the resources you needed in this forum. I'm hoping to do the same, trying to get myself in check like you did :)
 
May 4, 2010

Breakfast:
Cereal and soy Milk (130)
Coffee w/ soy milk (35)
Lunch:
Oatmeal with Raisins (200)
Snack:
Cappuccino (45)
Dinner:
Rice 1 cup (205)
Steak 1 small strip (156)
Beans 1 tbsp (30)
Snack:
Crackers w/ PB&J (140)
Raisins (40)

Total Caloric intake: 981
Exercise: None just massive amounts of studying from wake to sleep
Water: 6 cups
Mood: All over the place, started off stressed out, by noon I was happy and laughing, by night I was tired.
Horrible day. I was too focused on studying that I forgot to snack through out the day.


--------------------------

May 5, 2010 HAPPY CINCO DE MAYO

Breakfast:
Cereal w/ Milk (130)

Lunch:
Baked Ziti 1/2 portion (350)
w/ Grilled Chicken (90)

Dinner:
Starbucks Coffee w/ Soy milk Grande (180)
Dark Chocolate Covered Graham crackers 2 crackers (300)
Yogurt (80)

Late night snack:
Rice 1/4 cup (103)
Chicken breast grilled (90)

Total caloric intake: 1323
Exercise: None, massive studying but I went to the campus and walked in and out of the library, up and down the floors and in and out of campus for food.
Water: 5 cups
Mood: Started out happy, been happy most of the day, right now I have a headache and feel exhausted.

All in all it wasn't a bad day, I felt so proud of myself when I decided to only eat half the baked ziti and I scraped off the cheese and threw it out! I wanted it, but I didn't want the calories. My water intake was horrible today, maybe that's why i have a headache. It is hard to get all my cups while I'm on campus. A tiny water bottle is 1.35 and refilling it takes FOREVER. I used to have a reusable bottle but lost it. Should get one again.
A sign that I have been stressed out showed up on my face today, as a big ugly zit... UGH why do I still deal with pimples when I'm already 21?!!? Ironically I had less acne when I was heavier...
 
May 6, 2010

Height: '5"4
Weight: 153 (Gained 0.2 lbs)

I'm not surprised that my weight is about the same, the 0.2 gain isn't something I'll fret over. These past few weeks I've done nothing but study and study. I want to make sure that I leave my undergrad with honors.

====
Food
====
Breakfast:
Cereal w/ Milk (180)

Snack:
Cappucino (45)
Raisins (40)

Lunch:
Bread Roll (250)
Egg + 1 egg white (106)
Ketchup (20)

Snack:
Raisins (40)
Coffee w/ milk (35)

Dinner:
Rice (205)
Chicken (90)
Pigeon peas 1/4 cup (45)

Snack:
Slim Jim (80)
Hersey bar (210)

Total caloric intake: 1346
Water: 8 cups
Exercise: None just studying
Mood: Focused, a little peeved at certain times, and a slight head ache

Overall, today I was very sedentary. I've gotten some studying done but with my grandmother here I keep getting distracted. She kept telling me I'm going to be an old maid because I'm not interested in getting into a relationship. I'm 21, as far as I know I still have 20 years before my eggs start to expire. I put on some clothes that I haven't looked at for a while and noticed that I look thinner! Funny that i gained 0.2lbs, but I look thinner....
 
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May 7-10 Overview
I caught a cold and have been studying non stop for finals and doing everything else to get ready for graduating. Not a great remedy for the common cold. I fell somewhat better but the last few days I was feeling like total crap. I normally log my calories on my own on paper, so I'll just put the caloric intake instead of each item.


May 7: Calories, a little less than 1400
May 8: Calories were around 900-1000 (sooo low, I just wasn't hungry and when I tried to eat I'd get full in one bite)
May 9: Calories were a little less than 1200
May 10: calories are a little less than 1500

I weighed myself and I am 151.8, huh..........
 
Hi there! I commented to you back in the newbie section and thought I'd come read your diary.

First of all, congrats on the weight that you've lost over the past year! That's amazing!

Second of all, you are a very lovely girl at whatever weight. So pretty!

Third of all, I hope your cold is gone, you are feeling better and that you will be posting again soon!
 
May 20, 2010
Height: '5"4
Weight: 151.6 (lost only .2 lbs)

I am officially a Rutgers graduate!! Wow, this past week has been crazy with buying things last minute and applying to every open position I feel I can do.

First I am organizing my goals so they are clearer to me. I know things will never be exact. Though my calculations may say I should be loosing 1-1.5lbs a week, it never works that way.

Overall Goal: 134lbs or a BMI of 23, so I have about 18lbs to lose.
(The reason my main goal now is to reach a BMI of 23 is due to some research that has led me to believe that at a BMI of 23 I will have lowered my health risk to the fullest)
Monthly Goal: Loose 3.5-4lbs a month
End of August or Beginning of September goal: To be 140lbs-143lbs
Dream Goal Be 134lbs by Thanksgiving

Food Habits
Overall Goal:
-Eat more fruits and vegetables
-No more lean cuisines or heavily processed&preserved food
-No more heavily processed&preserved snacks like 80cal Hershey and Reesses
-Limit bread intake + only bread consumption should be whole wheat
-Drink 8 glasses of water a day or more

Exercise Habits
Overall Goal
-Clean house everyday, even if already clean
-Do intense exercise for at least 10 minutes a day
-Walk/Run intervals for 30mins-1hr two times a week
-Try not to be sedentary for long periods of time

Sleep Habits
Overall Goal
-Sleep 7-8 hours, no more
-Have a consistent sleep schedule
 
Long before I joined this forum I've kept a food diary, most of the time I don't miss an entry, but some days I forget to write in it.

*Note* Hershey and other candies are in controlled portion sizes. The ones I buy come in separately wrapped so one Hershey piece is 80 calories, one raisin box is 40.

May 14, 2010
7:30-Oatmeal (130 calories)
10:00-Coffee w/ soy milk and a Hersey (165 calories)
12:00-Honey Bunches of Oats w/ Almonds and soy milk with a Hershey (305)
3:00-Rice 1/2 cup, beef 1piece and corn 2Tbsp (566)
8:45-Lean Cuisine (340)
Water: 5cups
Total Caloric Intake: 1506

May 15, 2010
8:30-whole wheat 4inch roll, one egg and one egg white, ketchup (370)
11:30-McDonald's Hasbrown and 1cup of melon (214)
3:00- Honey Bunches of Oats w/ Strawberries, soy milk, two thin mints, Reeses (361)
6:25-Large Banana (121)
9:00-Bread, ham, cheese and think mint (278)
Water: 6cups
Total Caloric Intake: 1223

May 16, 2010
8:30-Egg and egg white, whole wheat bread roll, ketchup (310)
12:00-Chinola (passion fruit) juice 1lrg cup (296)
2:30-Whole wheat roll, ham, part-skim cheese, butter and thin mint (362)
5:10-Yellow rice, checken breast, mature plantain 1/4 (400)
Water: 5cups
Total Caloric Intake: 1368

May 17, 2010 GRADUATION!!!
7:30- Oatmeal (130)
6:00- Buffet, mostly ate meat and cake (estimate somewhere between 1000-1300 calories)
Water: none
Total Caloric Intake: unsure

May 18, 2010
8:30-Oatmeal and raisin box (200)
12:30-small white burger bun, veggie burger, ketchup (290)
4:30-Rice 1/2 cup, black beans 2tbsp, chicken breast (388)
5:30-Cappuccino and raisin box (85)
9:00-Oatmeal with raisin box (200)
Water: 7cups
Total Caloric Intake: 1163

May 19, 2010
8:30-Cereal w/ soy milk lite (230)
10:00-Smart ones dessert and 3 crackers (240)
12:00-Whole wheat roll with turkey (260)
2:00-Coffee with soy milk and Reeses (130)
4:20-Rice 1/4 cup and spare rib (378)
6:30-Coffee with skim and 1/2 a Tiramasu slice (201)
Water: 6cups
Total Caloric Intake: 1439
Exercise: Biggest looser DVD for 10 minutes, high intensity

May 20, 2010
7:45-Oatmeal with raisin box (200)
9:25-Crackers and cappuccino (190)
12:40-Tofu 1/2 package, cheese, olive oil, onion and garlic, Reeses (582)
4:00 rice, chicken and beans (310)
8:00 Cereal w/ soy milk lite (160)
Water: 8cups
Total Caloric Intake: stuck to my plan! so total is 1442
Exercise: Vigorous house cleaning for one hour, biggest looser DVD for 20 minutes low intensity, also walked a bit during shopping
 
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Rox said:
Hi there! I commented to you back in the newbie section and thought I'd come read your diary.

First of all, congrats on the weight that you've lost over the past year! That's amazing!

Second of all, you are a very lovely girl at whatever weight. So pretty!

Third of all, I hope your cold is gone, you are feeling better and that you will be posting again soon!
Click to expand...

I remember you!

Thank you so much for your comment, I appreciate it.
My cold is kind of gone, I still have a little snifflyness going on lol
 
Hey, there, I love your food journal, I'm not that controlled and currently trying to kick myself back into gear. I would be okay if I could get my exercise in and stop drinking the sugary drinks! Congradulations on your graduation! When you do exercise, whet type do you do?
 
Whoa congrats on your weight already lost- you look fantastic!!! Keep it up!!

Re the acne- I get it too only now I eat better it's almost entirely gone... I noticed you don't really eat any veg or much fruit on your food diary. You'll find if you increase the good stuff in your diet it will reflect on your skin!! Your body will thank you for it!!!
 
luzdafuzz said:
Whoa congrats on your weight already lost- you look fantastic!!! Keep it up!!

Re the acne- I get it too only now I eat better it's almost entirely gone... I noticed you don't really eat any veg or much fruit on your food diary. You'll find if you increase the good stuff in your diet it will reflect on your skin!! Your body will thank you for it!!!
Click to expand...

I completely agree with Luzdafuzz! I've been reading that lots of skin problems are linked to eating too many refined, non-whole grains (many breakfast ceareals, white rice, etc) and not enough veggies.

Since I changed my eating a month ago, my skin has completely changed. I used to get a small breakout about once a week and now I never do! I completely attribute it to whole grains and vegetables!

Also- I like your detailed food diary. It's interesting to see in-depth what other people are doing!
 
SilverMetal said:
How many calories do you try and stick ton per day?
Click to expand...

I try to be between 1200-1500 a day. But I try not to be extremely consistent, i.e. 1300 exact calories straight through the days. I'm afraid that my body will get comfortable at that caloric intake and create a plateau. So I try to hit different caloric intakes over the days but try not to go over 1500 or under 1200. I'm also taking a multivitamin (Flintstones LOL) because I am sure I am not getting all my daily recommended vitamins. I plan on eating more veggies and fruits, I think its a great time to do that now too since my favorite fruits are now in season!
 
njoyabl said:
Hey, there, I love your food journal, I'm not that controlled and currently trying to kick myself back into gear. I would be okay if I could get my exercise in and stop drinking the sugary drinks! Congradulations on your graduation! When you do exercise, whet type do you do?
Click to expand...

Thanks! I am a happy and currently unemployed graduate, lol I think most of us are so early in the game.

Oh sugary drinks were a battle for me!! It took me over a year to stick to water when at home and at restaurants. It sort of went like this; i would drink sprite and diet coke religiously, then tried to kick the calories so only stuck to diet... I noticed diet coke made me hungrier than usual so I changed my drinks to water with crystal lite, (try seltzer water with crystal like its like soda!). After getting used to water with crystal lite i started using less and less of the drink mix until I switched from crystal light to half a lemon. From there I started using less lemon and now I can drink regular water straight up and i actually like it.

I try to get my exercise done in the morning. If I don't have time in the morning (which is rare for me) I try to get a 30 minute walk, or at least 10 minutes from by exercise DVD an hour before going to bed. I bought the biggest looser 30 day jump start and do at least 10 mins in the morning right before I shower, if I have more time I do more. I do mostly cardio but I do weights with the DVD. One the blue moon days I get to the gym, which is far from my home, I do cardio on some machine and then hit all the weight machines and try to spend an hour doing weights.
 
Penguinita,

If you add the fresh fruits and veggies to your meals, and take away some
of the processed carbs, you will see a major improvement in your weight
loss results, and your overall health (including skin of course)

...and if you want to make some serious progress, walk 45 minutes per day
until you reach your ideal weight, and do this every day!

...there is nothing, let me say again, nothing more effective for burning off
unwanted body fat than walking on a daily basis!

...especially taking into account that your overall eating habits are really
excellent, you will reach your ideal body weight without any problems!
 
luzdafuzz said:
Whoa congrats on your weight already lost- you look fantastic!!! Keep it up!!

Re the acne- I get it too only now I eat better it's almost entirely gone... I noticed you don't really eat any veg or much fruit on your food diary. You'll find if you increase the good stuff in your diet it will reflect on your skin!! Your body will thank you for it!!!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice, I'll be putting it to action this coming week.
I am going to cut out all processed snacks this week. Since most fruits and veggies are getting back in season I'll buy more of those and incorporate them into my diet. I have a friend who used to have acne but once she became a vegan her skin has become so clear!
 
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