Yeesh.

Last night I ate all of my activity points and a good chunk of my allowance points. I don't know what my deal was, but I was just hungry and couldn't seem to feel satisfied. It's a good thing I froze half of that pumpkin bread I made, otherwise it would probably be gone this morning! Oh well. Back with a vengeance this morning. I was at the gym by around 8 am and busted out an 800 calorie workout. I was feeling somewhat energetic (for a cloudy, cold Saturday morning anyway) and figured I might as well take advantage of my motivation while it's strong and just kept going until I got tired. And really, I wasn't that tired by the time I finished, but I figured 800 cals in 65 minutes was a good stopping point. And yes, I admit, I was trying to make up for some of the food damage done last night. I try to avoid getting in that frame of mind (overexercising to make up for overeating), but what can I say? I'm in the 150s and would like to stay there for at least another week, haha. I'll definitely aim to keep things more balanced the rest of the week though.

Dinner at Pei Wei was good. Nothing like a big bowl of spicy noodles, beef and veggies. The guy taking our order tried to talk me out of having the beef prepared with vegetable stock instead of oil because he thought it tasted awful. After exchanging some mild pushiness, I finally said that while I appreciated the warning, I really wanted it prepared in the vegetable stock, not the oil. And hey, guess what? It tasted just fine! He made it sound like the beef would be bland and rubbery, but I thought it was tender, juicy and still full of flavor, thanks to the sauce and other spices mixed with the noodles. He later came to our table to see how I liked it and I told him it was awesome. Granted, I'm already used to eating things prepared with much less fat than most people, but I still don't think it was even close to being as bad as he described it. Anywho.

FOOD:

breakfast:
f.f. greek yogurt w/ blueberries- 2
special K cereal- 2
coffee w/ .25 cup almond milk- 0

lunch:
alternative bagel- 1
f.f. shredded cheese- 1
1 oz. avocado- 1
pear- 1
cucumber slices- 0

snack:
carrot sticks- 0
PB2- 1
8 oz. crystal light slurpee- 1
popcorn- 1

dinner:
green chile w/ beef, beans & tomatoes- 6
corn tortillas- 1
f.f. shredded cheese- 1

post-dinner:
chips- 2
salsa- 0
pumpkin bread- 2
pudding w/ pumpkin- 2
popcorn ball- 1

total points used: 26/22
activity points: 65 min HIIT routine- 8
net points: 23
WAPs: 20/35 remaining

EXERCISE:

Basically did another HIIT routine, but just extended the time on some of the intervals. I almost didn't get any time on the incline training or stair master. I felt like kind of a bitch snagging an incline trainer before the guy using it had cleaned the handles down. And I basically ran to the remaining stair master as another guy was walking toward it. But you know what? I don't really care. I'll try not to make a habit of doing that in the future, but I was on a mission today and wasn't in the mood to dick around, waiting for the machines I really wanted to use. Yes, this is me, once again, talking/acting like a self-righteous gym queen. It happens.

Today's routine:

- 14 min. run
- 21 min. incline training
- 15 min. elliptical
- 10 min. stair master
- 5 min. run/cool down walk

Oh, yeah!

Duh- after typing out all of the different nonsense in the last post, I almost forgot to mention some exciting news: I have a normal BMI!

Even though I haven't technically hit the 90 pound mark, both the Daily Plate and Diets in Review confirmed that My current BMI is about 24.9, taking me out of the overweight range and into the normal one.

At my highest weight, my BMI was about 39 and I was considered clinically obese.

It all still seems so surreal, I must admit.

Weigh-in Day.

Today's weight: 158.8. A loss of 4.2 pounds! Happy to see this, obviously. Though, it's hard to say how much of that was lost period bloat from the week before and how much was lost by eating more healthy fats (or, eating more in general, thanks to Saturday's party) AND starting my HIIT workout routine. Lots of different factors to consider, so I can't say for sure what, specifically, led to such a big loss. Ah well. I don't want to over-think it too much because it takes from the thrill of being in the 150s!

Yesterday, I decided against getting my free 11-point noodle bowl from Pei Wei and opted for cooking dinner at home (I e-mailed them last night for nutritional info since it's a new item and wasn't on their website; got a response this morning and it turns out I can get it prepared with vegetable stock instead of oil and save a couple of points). I just figured the bowl would probably have loads of sodium (and it does), which isn't the best choice the night before a weigh-in. However, I really don't feel like cooking tonight, so I think a big, free bowl of noodles will be appropriate for a Friday night.

I also made some Hungry Girl Pumpkin Bread. God, I love that stuff. I froze half of the loaf in hopes that I won't eat it all in one weekend, but we'll see how long I last, haha. It's such a great recipe because the slices are a generous size and make me feel like I truly am indulging. Plus, being damn tasty and only 2 points per slice doesn't hurt either. I had to go to 3 different stores to find the canned pumpkin though. Wal-mart and Safeway were out, so I finally went to King Soopers as a last resort and luckily they had some cans of the store-brand stuff. I remember reading in Hungry Girl that Libby (the main canned pumpkin company) had some crop issues this year, so they've been out of stock for a while.

On a different note, I also went shopping at Plato's Closet and picked up four tops and a pair of jeans for $23. I'm a total broke-ass these days, so it was exciting to snag a few new things on the cheap. I've been wearing the same 4 or 5 shirts for a few months now (all of my old clothes are too big, obviously) and it was driving me nuts. It's so weird (and awesome) to be able to shop off of a clearance rack for smaller sizes. Most tops I can just hold up to me and tell that they'll fit. All the tops I got were size medium. The jeans were size 8, but also kinda stretchy, so I consider them a generous size 8. Being a size 8 was my goal, but I don't consider myself a size 8 right now because most brands I've tried don't quite fit yet. I more of a 9, I guess. Anywho, definitely going back there to shop after I get paid again at the end of the month.

FOOD:

breakfast:
f.f. greek yogurt w/ blueberries- 2
pumpkin bread- 2

snack:
pear- 1
carrot sticks- 0
PB2- 1

lunch:
sandwich thin- 1
ham slices- 1
r.f. colby jack -1
2 cups progresso WW soup- 2

snack:
special K protein water- 0
popcorn ball- 1
pumpkin bread- 3

dinner:
pei wei japanese chile beef ramen- 11
fortune cookie- 1

post-dinner:
popcorn- 3
s.f. pudding- 1
pumpkin bread- 3
ice cream- 5
kashi bar- 2

total points used: 41/22
activity points: Jillian Michaels' Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism DVD- 4
net points: 37
WAPs: 20/35 remaining

EXERCISE:

Did a Jillian Michaels DVD this morning. God, I still hate those jumping scissor kicks she makes you do. I hadn't done that DVD in a while, so I forgot how rough some of those moves were. Oh well. They got my heart pumping, so I won't complain.

As for tomorrow, I'm not sure what I'm doing for exercise. I think the weather's gonna be crappy, so I may have to opt for the gym if I want to run. We'll see. I wouldn't mind going to the gym; weekends are always a nice time to go. And if I do go, I'll probably spend some extra time on the weight machines too.


Ok, I think I've rambled enough. Hope everyone has a nice weekend!

Quote for the day/week/month/year.

"Just because you don't achieve something doesn't mean it won't happen. It only means it won't happen now."

— American hurdler Lolo Jones in Self Magazine

FOOD:

breakfast:
egg beaters- 1
diced onion/tomato/mushroom/jalapeno- 0
light swiss- 1
light english muffin- 1
chai tea w/ .25 cup almond milk- 0

snack:
9 almonds- 1
carrot sticks/bell pepper strips- 0
PB2- 1
pear- 1

lunch:
smart ones cranberry turkey medallions- 4
orange- 1

snack:
soy nut mix- 2

dinner:
salmon- 3
spinach w/ light laughing cow wedge- 1
potato- 2
Hungry Girl Pumpkin Bread- 2
wine- 2

post-dinner:
s.f. pudding- 1

total points used: 24/23
activity points: 47 min. HIIT routine- 6
net points: 23
WAPs: -42/35 remaining

had another tasty breakfast this morning. i friggin' love omelets with onions, mushrooms and tomatoes. love, love, love. i'm also in love with unsweetened almond milk these days. so low in calories, it's ridiculous. perfect for low-point (or even zero-point) lattes. mmm. i've never been a big milk drinker to begin with, so i switched to soy milk for a while when i first started WW. then i finally gave almond milk a try a few months ago and will probably never go back. more expensive, yes, but it lasts me forever since i don't use much to begin with and it doesn't seem to spoil, ever. i'm sure it spoils eventually, but it probably takes several weeks.

still debating dinner. i have a Pei Wei coupon for a free beef noodle bowl which, after a little research, will cost me 12 points. i also have salmon thawing in the fridge. i'm torn between being lazy and spending more points on the bowl or being sensible and taking time to cook a balanced meal at home. I know what the right option is, but I'm also a fan of asian noodle bowls, especially those of the free variety. we'll see.

EXERCISE:

Did another HIIT routine at the gym this morning. It went really well. This morning was the first time in a long time that I finished a workout, went to my car to go home and thought, "Wow, that felt really good!" I'm tellin' ya, breaking things up into intervals makes things so much easier (in terms of time and boredom issues), yet still very challenging. why it took me so long to discover this is baffling.

Today:
- 11 min. run (1 mile)
- 16 min. incline training
- 10 min. elliptical
- 10 min. stair master

If I keep this up, I'm pretty sure my ass will be damn hot in a month or so. Seriously. Running and incline training are cool and all, but the elliptical and the stair master have really been working my glutes.

and every interval still kept my heart rate way up. i had a few moments where i had to catch my breath, but instead of feeling like i was struggling, i just felt invigorated. i think that's a rare feeling to achieve at 5:30 in the morning, haha.


I keep thinking today is Friday. Buh. One more day. But I am ditching work at 2 this afternoon, so I suppose I can't complain too much.

FOOD:

breakfast:
f.f. cottage cheese- 2
1.5 oz. avocado- 2
alternative bagel- 1

snack:
popcorn ball- 1
carrot sticks/bell pepper strips- 0
PB2- 1

lunch:
sandwich thin- 1
chicken slices- 1
1 oz. avocado- 1
cantaloupe cubes- 1
grapes- 1
soy nut mix- 2

snack:
lightfull smoothie- 1

dinner:
chicken sausage- 3
tomato/mexican squash- 1
potato- 2
parmesan- 1

post-dinner:
s.f. pudding cup- 1

total points used: 23/23
activity points: No More Trouble Zones DVD- 2
WAPs: -42/35 remaining

going to quiz tonight, so we'll be having whatever's around for dinner. I'm planning on finishing off the last chicken sausage, probably with some random assortment of veggies.

EXERCISE:

Did Jillian Michaels' No More Trouble Zones DVD this morning. It only earned me two activity points, but that was expected. I always forget how good the mix of moves is on that workout. She targets different muscle groups pretty evenly, so it's a good mix for someone like me who hates trying to come up with a strength training routine on their own.


Not much else to report. Just getting anxious for Friday's weigh-in.

Back to the grind.

Pretty lazy Labor Day. Made some teriyaki broccoli, tofu & mushrooms for dinner last night. I adapted it from a Biggest Loser cookbook recipe. Turned out pretty good. I've made it before, but adding the mushrooms gave it a nice touch.

FOOD:

breakfast:
egg beaters- 1
diced onion/mushroom/tomato- 0
light swiss- 1
light english muffin- 1

snack:
soynut mix- 2
celery/cucumber/bell pepper strips- 0
guacamole- 2

lunch:
leftover teriyaki broccoli/tofu/mushrooms- 4
cantaloupe cubes- 1

snack:
popcorn ball- 1

dinner:
chicken breast- 3
mashed cauliflower- 2
cucumber-tomato salad- 0
f.f. poppyseed dressing- 1
coors light- 2
s.f. pudding- 2

post-dinner:
popcorn- 1

total points used: 24/23
activity points: 50 min HIIT- 6
net points: 23
WAPs: -42/35 remaining


EXERCISE:

Did my first day of High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) this morning at the gym. It was only the first day, but yeah, I think I'm a fan. I didn't stay on a single machine for more than 15 minutes, so the time flew by and my heart rate stayed pretty high all the way through, which was good for calorie burn.

This was my routine:
-10 min. treadmill (1 mile run)
-15 min. stairmaster
-10 min. elliptical
-10 min. incline training
-5 min. cool-down walk/stretching

I re-discovered the stairmaster (the one that's like an escalator). It's been months since I last used one and I was surprised how high it kept my heart rate. It kept it even higher than incline training, so definitely a good alternative. And the course I chose had a really good pace that kept me sweating, but also slowed down when I needed to catch my breath.

So that's that. I think I'm gonna stick with those machines for a while and just change the order in which I use them. Once I start to get bored, I might add in some cycling and rowing. We'll see.

Tomorrow I'm planning on doing Jillian Michaels' No More Trouble Zones, to keep up with my strength training. Thursday, I'll probably go to the gym again for HIIT and Friday, I think I'll do the Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism DVD, just because I haven't done it in a while.

Ho-hum.

Weight is back down from the crazy Saturday binge. Still need to stay focused the rest of the week though. Tomorrow I'm planning on going to the gym in the morning and might try a mix-up routine like I talked about earlier. I'll start with some running, then incline train, and finish off with the elliptical and stair stepper.

Wednesday is my usual morning off from working out, but I might try to squeeze in something like 30 Day Shred, just to help recover a little more from Saturday. Still undecided on what to do Thursday and Friday.

That's about it. No real plans today. Dinner will probably be a broccoli/tofu recipe from the Biggest Loser cookbook since we have so much broccoli leftover from the party.

FOOD:

breakfast:
pear- 1
oatmeal w/ protein powder- 3

lunch:
popcorn ball- 1
chips- 1
guacamole- 2
cheese sandwich- 2

snack:
s.f. pudding- 1
cantaloupe cubes- 1
grapes- 1
chips- 1
salsa- 0

dinner:
Teriyaki Broccoli, Mushrooms & Tofu- 4

post-dinner:
ice cream- 4
s.f. pudding- 1

total points used: 23/23
activity points: Biggest Loser Boot camp, all levels- 3
WAPs: -42/35 remaining

EXERCISE:

Did the Biggest Loser Boot Camp DVD. I hate lunges so god damn much. I've grown to be okay with squats, but lunges can still suck it.

My goodness.

This morning, I am six months pregnant with cheese pizza, cheesecake bites and an entire bottle of wine, amongst other things.

Yeah, I went waaaaay overboard at the party last night. But despite having negative allowance points, I can't say I really care. I mean, I suppose I care, but I'm not at all upset. I was definitely in a "fuck it!" kind of mood, so I thoroughly enjoyed every last bloat-inducing bite and I had fun with my friends. AND, I went back and tracked everything this morning, which I wasn't originally going to do. I'm glad I did. Even though it's overwhelming (and at times, just plain disgusting) to see how quickly points can disappear, it always makes me feel better to track every last point, no matter how bad the damage. Makes a huge difference in the long run.

That was my first big binge I've had in a loooong time, so I see no reason to beat myself up. And who knows- with the way my weigh-ins have been going lately, it might have even done me some good, haha. We'll see.

FOOD:

breakfast:
cantaloupe cubes- 1
grapes- 1

lunch:
alternative bagel- 1
2 oz. avocado- 2

snack:
veggies- 1
hummus- 3
pretzels- 1
popcorn- 1

dinner:
light bread- 1
tuna- 2
mayo- 1
salsa- 0
cheese slice- 1
orange-1

post-dinner:
ice cream- 3
PB2- 1
light syrup- 1
s.f. pudding cup- 1
strabwerries/blueberries- 1

total points used: 24/23
activity points: 54 min. jog/walk/run- 6
net points: 23
WAPs: -42/35

I woke up full this morning. Buh. On the upside, we have a crapload of veggies leftover since not as many people showed up as I thought would. All I can think of eating today without feeling sick are fruits and veggies. Anything else sounds too heavy.


EXERCISE:

By some miracle, I made it out of the house this morning to run. Well... Sorta... It ended up being more of a jog/run with LOTS of walking intervals. I was really just too heavy with food and booze to do a full-out run without passing out and/or crapping my pants. I took things slow and steady, but still managed to burn a decent amount of calories. I wanted to wait until later in the day to exercise since my stomach was still so full, but I knew if I put it off any longer, I wouldn't do anything at all. And not doing anything just isn't an option anymore.

=====================================

So, all in all, I'm in a pretty good mood. I had a good time, got some junk food fixes out of my system and tried to keep things as stable as I could by keeping up with my exercise. And if I gain this week, oh well. I have no qualms about holding myself accountable. It's easier and almost empowering to take full responsibility for my actions, be they positive or negative.

Lastly, I don't think we went to bed until sometime between 2:30 and 3 am, so I think a nap is in order later today, haha.

Hooray for new things.

Went over my points a bit with some ice cream last night. But y'know what? It was light, creamy and delicious and it made my soul feel better. So there, haha.

FOOD:

breakfast:
egg beaters- 1
salsa- 0
onion alternative bagel- 1
1 oz. avocado- 1

lunch:
sandwich thin- 1
chicken slices- 1
r.f. pepperjack cheese- 1
1 oz. avocado- 1
cantaloupe cubes/grapes- 3

snack:
bell pepper strips- 0
popcorn- 1

dinner:
wine- 8
coors light- 2
pizza- 33
pretzels- 1
corn chips- 3
potato chips- 4
hummus- 2
sour cream dip- 3
peach cobbler- 6
ice cream- 2
spinach artichoke dip- 2
crackers- 2
cheesecake bites- 21
brie w/ bread- 4

total points used: 104/23
activity points: 53 min. run- 7
net points: 97
WAPs: -42/35 remaining

So, in my quest to eat more healthy fats, I've discovered that spreading mashed avocado on top of a toasted onion bagel is the shiiiiit! It's so good. I just sprinkle a dash of salt and pepper on top and it's good to go. Great alternative to cream cheese, I think (well, while avocados are on sale 3 for $1, anyway). Though, I've been known to mix weird random things and think it tastes awesome, so proceed with caution if you decide to try it, heh.

EXERCISE:

Morning run. And OMG, it was a great one! It was hard to get going because it was cloudy and kinda foggy, but I forced myself out of the house around 8 am. It dawned on me last night that I should try running around the college campus where I work. I see people running/biking around there all the time, but it never occurred to me to try it, despite the fact that our neighborhood is right across the street.

Anywho, it was fun! I did about 1.5 laps, going from one end of campus to the other. Even went on one of the trail paths in the hills behind the rec center. It was just a much-needed change of pace because there were various hills to push me out of my comfort zone and all sorts of turns that forced me to use my back and ab muscles more.

That said, there were a lot of parts that went downhill, but I seemed to hit them all at the right time, as I was getting tired and ready for a short cool-down.

I'm definitely going to do it again in the future. There were some good inclines that I would like to master at a decent speed some day. The change of scenery was appreciated, as I was starting to get bored with the usual trail I run on. And I actually love running on cloudy mornings now. It was just cool, gray and peaceful. Yet another reason for me and Doug to move to Portland, OR someday.

============================================

Pretty good start to the weekend so far. And my weight was down a bit this morning. Hopefully that trend continues the rest of the week. I'm actually ok with weighing myself daily these days. I was reading some articles that say it's perfectly ok to do, as long as you don't allow it to stress you out and understand how much weight can fluctuate day-to-day. I think it helps to give me a better idea of what works, in terms of food intake and exercise. At the same time though, I still know that what I see each day won't necessarily dictate the results of my Friday weigh-ins. I guess what it boils down to is me just being curious.

We're having the going away party for our friends tonight, hence me burning 700 calories on my run this morning. I'm not against using some allowance points, but a little extra calorie burn doesn't hurt either, right?