I have some explaining to do...

I could give my readers a lot of lame excuses (you all know by know I'm good at that) about where I've been for the past couple weeks, but no one wants to read them, nor do I want to write them. So I'm going to pick up like I was never gone.

Friday, November 30, 2012
Weight: 161

Breakfast: whole wheat toast w/ peanut butter

Lunch: whole wheat spaghetti noodles w/ 4 cheese sauce, 1 c. cooked carrots, 1/2 an apple

Snack: banana

Supper: baked turkey burger on bun w/ ketchup and lettuce, 1 c. mixed vegetables

Exercise: 20 minute workout on my Wii w/ EA Sports 30 day program. Today was my 2nd day in a 30 day challenge. I'm feeling pretty stiff and sore in places I haven't been sore in before which I'm pretty happy about.

I have been really lax on our clean eating plan and as expected, I've gained my weight back and been feeling pretty down on myself. My main problem is I haven't been organizing meals like before and that was a huge factor in the plan and my success. Another factor has been money for groceries b/c of buying extra food for in between meals. So wish me luck at getting back on track!

Getting the Ball Rolling

Alright everyone, its still been a bit hard getting back on track. I've been missing my in between meals and I can really tell a difference in my afternoon schedule. My body has been giving me signs something funky is going on (or into it). I'm sorry if some of this may be too much TMI for my readers but I want to be honest w/ you all. My bowels have been more regular (I had been going only once a week) and over the weekend when I would "cheat" or miss an in between meal, I would get severe stomach pains and a couple times a bout of diarrhea. This week my stomach still gets cramped up and sometimes I feel nauseous. I've been stupid and haven't been paying attention to what time I'm eating (or not) and tracking what's causing these cramps and nausea.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Weight: 159 (on the way back down!)

Breakfast @ 8 - 1 cup oatmeal w/ Stevia and cinnamon

Snack @ 10 - 2 rice cakes (eaten in the car)

Lunch @ 12 - Wendy's crispy chicken Caesar wrap (I know it's not clean friendly), small bowl of chili

Supper @ 6:45 - oven roasted chicken breast sandwich from Subway on wheat bread w/ fat free honey mustard, pickles and lettuce (I know, again it's not "clean")

I did, however, stay w/in my allotted calories for the day so I wasn't too worried about not sticking to our plan.

Thursday, November 16, 2012
Weight: 159

Breakfast: 1/2 c. oatmeal w/ Stevia and cinnamon

Lunch: homemade mac and cheese w/ mild cheddar cheese

Snack: pear, 2 mini three musketeers

Supper: leftover Taco Soup (1.5 c.), glass of strawberry milk

I ordered the program EA Sports Active for our Wii. I'd been reading some reviews of some fitness programs and was a little clueless as to which one to order. The EA Sports got great reviews and also said it was basically like a couple other programs I was interesting in. I'm betting it will be here after Thanksgiving which will work great for me to start an exercise program by the first of December.

My Apologies

No one wants to hear my excuses for missing blog posts the last 2 days. After the weekend I was completely unmotivated to get on the right track. Keep in mind I didn't let my eating habits stray too much over the weekend, but it was still hard to get back to it. Monday my kids and I had a play group in the morning and went out to lunch then grocery shopping. I didn't plan accordingly and in a moment of weakness found myself wolfing down a burger and fries at McDonald's. I didn't eat my in between meals either. I was pretty down on myself that day. Then Tuesday rolled around...

Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Weight: 160 (Gained that pesky pound back!)

Breakfast @ 8:15 - 1/2 cup oatmeal w/ Stevia packet and a banana

Lunch @ 12:15 - Salad w/ vinaigrette dressing and a chicken breast

Supper @ 6:30 - 1 1/2 cups taco soup, toast w/ butter, apple slices

As you can see I was able to get at least halfway back on track on Tuesday even though I still didn't eat any in between meals. However, I took a long afternoon nap, which was a huge mistake, and felt like crap all evening. I hope I've learned my lesson. I've been trying to get a good workout routine established so will hopefully be starting to post an exercise portion too. Send positive thoughts! I know we could all use some!

Playing Catchup

My weekend wasn't spent following our clean eating schedule, but I didn't pig out on sweets either. My body was definitely telling me I was eating something it wasn't used to. (May be TMI, but I'm trying to be honest.) I had several instances of stomach pains, nauseau and some diarrhea. Nothing real serious but very uncomfortable and made me aware of how clean eating last week has changed my body.

We're starting over tomorrow and hopefully I didn't add too many pounds to the scale. Wish me luck in the morning!

Day 3 - Resisting Temptation

Today I faced the ultimate temptation: We ate lunch at McDonald's. (You're probably thinking, How did she do that?!) We had a play date at the park and I had planned on eating lunch out so had packed food accordingly. I was pleased to realize I wasn't the least bit tempted. The only thing I was really jonesing for was caffeine, a pop. But I made do w/ my cup of water.

Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Weight: 159 (Whoo hoo!)

Breakfast @ 7:45 - blueberry oatmeal

Mid morning snack @ 10:15 - apple slices, almonds

Lunch @ 12 - baked chicken breast, McDonald's side salad, Newman's Own viniagrette dressing

I missed my afternoon snack

Supper @ 6:30 - homemade mac and cheese, crinkle cut carrots and broccoli cuts

I don't really feel too different today, not sure if I should be feeling better or anything. I did however sprout 3 new zits on my chin! I thought by cutting out all this sugar my skin was supposed to clear up. I have been under some stress so I'm hoping that the trigger for these new blemishes. This weekend is going to be tricky for both blogging and watching my food. We're going home to visit our parents and there will be lots of temptation, opportunities to "cheat" or give up for a few days. I'm going to try and stick to it but I'm not going to beat myself up if I slip once or twice. Also, I may not be able to post the next few days but I'll be keeping track and will post when I can just be aware it might not be until Sunday. I apologize in advance. Thanks for reading!

P.S. I'm trying to remember to take pictures of my food but always seem to remember after I've eaten it. I'll try and be better.

Day 2 - Seeing the slightest bit of results

I woke up not really feeling that hungry and apparently didn't learn my lesson from yesterday b/c my alarm went off about 6 but I didn't get out of bed until 6:30 when my husband got out of the shower which means I was again scrambling to get breakfast and his meals sorted out for the day. Luckily I had made a smoothie yesterday and there was some left in the fridge. That was easy for him drink in a hurry. His meals for tomorrow have already been talked about and carefully arranged at eye level in the fridge. I have some errands and a play date w/ my kids so my meals could be a little trickier.

Tuesday, November 5, 2012
Weight: 160 (Lost half a pound!)

Breakfast @ 7:30 - 2 clean pancakes w/ 1/4 c. sugar free syrup

Mid Morning Snack @ 10:15 AM - banana, 11 almonds

Lunch @ 12:15 PM - baked chicken breast (4 oz), romaine lettuce w/ 1 tbsp. lemon juice, an apple

Mid Afternoon Snack @ 2:15 PM - 1/4 c. clean tuna on wheat crackers

Another Snack @ 5:15 PM (my timing got messed up today and I ended up eating 6 times instead of 5, I stayed w/in my allotted calories though) - 1 pear, 11 almonds

Supper @ 7:15 PM - Clean chicken and dumplings in the crockpot, 1 cup corn, handful of grapes

The last 2 days I've kept my calorie intake below 1300 and I haven't been overly hungry at the end of the day. I thought I did better again at keeping my temper and patience level in the normal range and that 2 PM nap everyone wants to take didn't come today. It might have been b/c I was cooking my ass off trying to get supper in the crockpot (left it to the last minute). I did however, get really sleepy around 6. So much so that I dozed for awhile on the couch waking periodically in a panic to make sure my children were still in the room. (Don't tell me no one else is guilty of this.) All in all I'd say the clean eating is working out pretty well. The only down side I can see right now is that neither my husband nor I want to eat the same things every day and we have so many leftovers from supper I don't want to waste food. I'm sure everything, w/ the exception of the tuna salad, will keep for awhile. Check back tomorrow to see if the pounds are still dropping!

Clean Eating Day 1

Today was our first day of eating clean. I spent the past couple weeks scouting recipes, making a meal plan, reading research and prepping meals. My husband wasn't crazy about shopping at an organic health food store, but he went along w/ it and has been a good sport (so far). The meal planning went really well, until I realized I hadn't considered calories for each "meal." While I wasn't too far off in my food pairings, I realized this last night at 10 and had to scramble to get things sorted and packed for my husband. Lesson learned: I need to calculate calories for each meal in the day. (Which happens to be 5.)

Monday, November 5, 2012
Measurements: Arms - 11.5
                            Chest - 42
                            Waist - 35.5
                            Hips - 42.5
                            Thighs - 21
Weight: 160.5

Breakfast: 7:30 AM - 2 clean pancakes w/ 1/4 c. sugar free syrup

Mid-Morning Snack: 9:30 AM - 1 pear and 11 almonds

Lunch: 1 PM - Blueberry Oatmeal Smoothie

Mid-Afternoon Snack: 4:30 PM - 1/2 c. clean tuna salad, 9 wheat crackers, 3 rice cakes

Supper: 7 PM - 1 c. clean chili mac, 1 1/2 slices Ezekial bread

I also increased my water intake and while I was peeing constantly, I was suprised by how easily I drank 7 glasses of water. (This was a 22 oz cup from Kwik Shop so really 14 glasses.)

I was also able to keep my temper and patience in check today in re: to my son. (Hopefully that doesn't make me sound like a crappy mom.) The only thing lacking from my day was exercise. I wasn't able to fit it in b/c my daughter decided she didn't need an afternoon nap. Instead she screamed for 20 min. while in her crib. I'm planning on tomorrow going better.