Down 6.4 lbs :)

I am feeling GOOD!!! I have a long way to go, but I feel so much better and more in control. I actually made it to Zumba twice in one week! What?!!! My friend asked if I was coming on Friday too,  and I said that I had to lose more weight first....makes sense? Honestly, I know I can't set myself up to fail, and 3 times a week would probably not fit into my plans right now. It's the first time in a couple of months that I have made it twice.

Update on the Ideal shake. I just could not tolerate something that was in the shake. I got used to the spinach addition and the taste, but it made me nauseous. Hubby and I were headed out to lunch and shopping and I had to cancel and stay closer to home. It reminded me of my morning sickness days. NOT a good memory at my age :) I sent it back for the refund and from the reviews it appears they are really good about following through.... I hope so, or it was a 50.00 experiment.

I have gotten back into eating my multi grain sandwich thins and I LOVE them now. There are 5 grams of fiber in them and I need that. I am also big time in to Kroger brand organic low salt popcorn, it satisfies my crunch craving, and I am also eating several pieces of beef jerky a day. It was on the suggested list for snacks on the Ideal Shake meal plan. I hadn't really thought of it before, and it is expensive, but definitely worth the ability to chew.

I am very excited to get out of the 150's, although I know it will be a couple of months away, I will get there. 140 is my current goal, I just never really stayed in the 130's when I did the BFC. I will get there!!!

It appears that my daughter in Georgia will be moving back to our side of the U.S. for their next military move. To say I am excited to have my grands closer is and understatement. It would still be quite a drive, or a mere hour plane ride, but OMG.....I can't wait to hear! I will so very much miss my Georgia visits though, it made me feel close to my Dad and his family since he was from there. I miss him so.

Blessings and happy scales!!! God is AMAZING!!!

4.9 gone....

I truly wish I had lost more after 20 days of being "good", but my good, and "technically diet good", are probably 2 different things.

I want to update again on my Ideal shake. I added spinach and I lived! I not only lived, but I have added the spinach each time since the first attempt. I can't even taste it, and I know that I need to eat some healthy things. I don't think I will order it again, not because it isn't great, but because the ready to drink bottles of slimfast are way easier. There is a very large online community and they post a lot of shake ideas and helpful tips, just probably not my thing. 

I have been extremely lazy with my steps and exercise. I think in my 3 week period I have only gone to Zumba 4 times? Typically it's because of the weather, but I will get better as the weather gets better. I could certainly do it in my home, but that is not something that comes natural to me yet.

Onward....I am hoping that I will have my energy kick in and I will increase activity and continue to eat well for me.

Blessings and happy scales...

Discouraged? Not yet....

It's been 2 weeks since I started "trying" to lose weight. For 2 weeks I have not had 1 single thing that is considered a "sugar treat." For days, weeks, months even....I had been eating something sweet every day. Why or why couldn't I just lose weight after giving up my sweets??? Because that would be too easy and not teach me a lesson!!!

I have been having 1 slimfast advanced nutrition shake and 1 Ideal shake a day and adding in a dinner/lunch that follows BFC guidelines. Well....mostly....Ideal allows a cheat meal and I have to say that my carbs are bread or pizza crust. It's interesting to see myfitnesspal is pretty much right on with the BFC lifestyle as far as the 15/6 rule. I have been eating a bit more fruit, no banana yet which is on of my favorites!

I did go to Zumba today and it was a bit easier. I have my 10,000 steps in for the day and I have to say I am proud of myself. The weight is not melting off, and I am trying to not be discouraged...it is a lifestyle...not a sprint. I will be happy to get back into the 150's.

My friend came back to Zumba today after a 6 month absence and a 76 lb weight loss. She is working with a naturaopath. (sp) and was not "allowed" to do anything but walk for the first 6 months of her weight loss journey. She was the larger bottom type gal and she looks awesome. I am inspired and happy for her!!!

Quiet weekend, quiet week ahead...I certainly do not mind that! I believe hubby and I have saved 100's of dollars over the last 2 weeks not eating out every day! Good news :)

Blessings and happy scales...

My little sis and her boyfriend, they have been going together for over 40 years!!!

Down 4.4 lbs in 11 days....

I would love to have seen a much lower number on the scale, but I will take it, especially since I don't feel like I am depriving myself of anything....except all my sweets that I had over the Holidays. You would think that just not eating 10 cookies a day would be an automatic loss!

I have an update on my Ideal shake. I added left over coffee, some crushed ice, and the unsweetened vanilla almond milk and it was great. I mean it....it was really good. I thought maybe it was a one time thing, but I had it for breakfast again today and it is good! What a relief!!! The reason that I prefer the Ideal shake even though it is messy and not as easy as the slimfast bottle is because it has 5 grams of fiber per shake. That fiber is helpful!

I had my shake and a cutie orange about 9:00 am and them we went to a movie at 12:20. No lunch until 3:30 and I was in no way "hungry"...kind of cool.

We went to see "13 Hours" the true story of Benghazi. AMAZING. The men in the movie are real life heroes and their story deserves to be told. God Bless them all.

It's the weekend....according to Ideal shakes I get a cheat day....here's hoping I don't cheat all 3 days!

P.S. After the movie we went to Costa Vida and I had chicken nachos. Yep...second time since I started 11 days ago....go me!

Blessings and happy scales...

Zumba day 2 and I didn't die again :)

OK, I got my Ideal shakes on Monday and had my first one for breakfast on Tuesday with just water. I seriously thought that I was going to barf and my tummy stayed nauseous for a couple of hours. However....I then had a burger and fries for lunch :(

My little sister lives in a nursing home (she was born with spina bifida) and we took her and her boyfriend lunch. If this is going to work for me "forever", I have to eat like I would eat forever! I had my burger, went light on the fries, and then had another shake with almond milk for and 4 pieces of bacon for dinner. I am drinking a lot of water!

This morning I had a slimfast protein shake before Zumba so I would not feel sick! Lunch was another sample flavor Mocha of the Ideal shake and 4 pieces of bacon. The mocha wasn't "as gross", but I simply do not understand how anyone would say it is great tasting. There is a smoothy book that goes along with the shakes of all different add ins, I think that is what makes them so tasty. I would rather eat my calories than add them in to the shake. I am not giving up yet! I did have my hubby buy more slimfast protein so I can mix it up. I am seriously about getting some of this weight off.

Dinner was 1/2 black forest ham on a bagel sandwich, spinach salad and about 10 chili cheese fritos....I still love them :)

Life...love it....live it....

Blessings and happy scales!

Gonzaga University basketball! Go Zags!

Zumba and I didn't die ;)

I am so proud of myself! I went to Zumba this morning for the first time in about 6 weeks and I lived! I not only lived but  I also did over 6000 steps and 60 active minutes on my Fitbit! Yay me!!!

I was a bit disappointed by the scale this AM...I always want to see a 10 lb loss for a 3 lb effort! I am still feeling a little puny from sugar withdrawals, so my tummy wasn't up to much food yesterday. I thought it would be magic!

I read this article this morning and it totally validates my never giving up my bacon! I remember Dr.Oz years ago saying the best diet was "the one you can live with for the rest of your life." I 100% agree.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/judith-s-beck-phd/the-best-diet-ever-three-key-ingredients_b_8889774.html

I'm so appreciative of any and all comments. I truly believe when our little blogging community was going we all stayed more on track. Whatever "food lifestyle" we follow, we can encourage one another!

Thank you, thank you, thank you to those that comment :) We are in this struggle together...
Blessings and happy scales!!!

Day 4 and I have stayed committed!!!

Short and sweet, this is what I am doing...

Breakfast: Slimfast protein shake
Lunch: Slimfast protein shake and 4 pieces of pre cooked bacon (Costco) or other meat. Why? Because I love to chew something. I cook the bacon super crispy and it makes me chew...a lot...and today I had leftover steak.
Dinner: Meat, 1/2 potato with pat of butter, spinach (yuck), ranch dressing, and a cutie orange.

I have not gone back to exercise and quite honestly have felt kind of sickly, like when I am detoxing off sugar....I did weigh this morning and I was down 2.2 lbs. It's a start!!!

I have looked at all the shakes available and choose Ideal shakes. I ordered chocolate today and it came with the Ideal diet ebook, shaker and 3 samples of other flavors. I am hoping the Mocha one will be good. There is also a smoothy recipe book that has some really interesting ideas. Even a key lime pie one! Ideal shakes do have sucralose, which I know Jorge is against, but it's a risk I am willing to take.

I have not had 1 soda since Sunday, I was back to drinking them about twice a day...yay me!!!

I did go to lunch with my girls on Tuesday and had 1/2 chicken pepperoni pizza. When I followed the BFC I would put all the toppings on 2 crusts and that's what I did this time. Baby steps to normal.

Blessings and Happy Scales....

Not a fan....And don't ask how I did this, I have no idea ;)

165.5 Back to the top :(

Well friends, I doubt if anyone is still reading this, but I am doing it for me, to hold myself accountable, and to follow my new journey. I have eaten my way up to higher than when I started the Belly Fat Cure 5 years ago. For 5 years I was able to control my weight, not to the lowest I wanted to be, but within fighting weight. I let sugar and white carbs back in daily....and here I am....unhappy with how I look and totally unhealthy...so unhealthy that I "grunt" when I bend down. We have a lot of snow and ice, and I use that as an excuse of not going to Zumba, even though I have the DVD's and plenty of options on my computer via youtube. I have extended the date that I would "start" so many times. My daughter in law is doing Isogenix, she lost 35 lbs since one of the times I was going to start! I have to do this, for me, for my future, for me health. I will do this. I can do this, and I pray that I don't forget how good it feels to feel good.

I can tell you that this isn't totally about looking good, I don't think I look "that bad". I feel "that bad". I feel out of breath, like a sausage in casing. I'm done. I want to be active, physical, healthy, limber, no aches and pains, heart healthy.

May God help me, I am going to need Him!!!

Blessings and Happy Scales...