My Plate

I have never been a calorie counter. Instead I prefer my own silly version of Body for Life, in which cheese and peanut butter count as my protein, and their natural partners, bread and crackers count as my carb. Using this method (there's a little more to it than that, but not much), I have successfully lost weight after each baby. But it was SLOW comin' off.

A couple years ago, Ryan used Livestrong.com/myplate to lose 20 lbs I didn't think he needed to shed (he looks great!). He encouraged me to try it, but it sounded an awful lot like calorie counting (-because it is), so I didn't. But my sister did. And she loved it so much, that after Susanna was born, she was able to convince me to try it (Ryan doesn't like where his influence ranked on this one, but I will give him a little credit for the idea's origination. :).

I have to say that livestrong.com/MYPLATE has been, by far, the best way I've ever lost weight. I am in complete control of how fast or slow I lose it. My goal was 1.5lbs a week and after 6 weeks, I had lost exactly 9 lbs. It is pretty awesome to be in the driver's seat; to know exactly how much energy I'm taking in and how much I'm using. This site is used by so many people, the database for foods is enormous. Chances are, anything you're eating is going to show up (nutritional information included) if you type it in. You can also put in your own recipes, and it will calculate the calories for you.

Best of all, it is FREE.

I'm not gaining weight this holiday season, I'm losing it. And I don't think I'm going to regret that.

Is Anyone Out There?

Is anyone losing weight? Not losing weight? Gaining weight? Reading this? Just wondering. It's a new year and new (or somewhat new) goals to achieve. I made a goal to climb Mt. Adams with Erik this year so I am working really hard to eat right and get in shape so I can make it to the top and not hold him back when we go. Any other goals out there?

Almost There!

I had to write and tell you guys how excited I am. I finally reached my half-way mark! I have now lost 15 lbs and only 15 more to go until I reach my goal. I've been working at this for 4 months now and it's been slow going but I really think that sometimes our bodies try to hold on to the weight and it makes it really hard to lose anything. Persistence, and the fact that my husband is obsessed with this diet, is finally paying off. I hope everyone else is succeeding in their weight loss goals. Let's keep the conversation moving. How are you guys doing?

Motivation

I am being totally bad with this right now. I haven't been to the gym in weeks but at least I've been eating decently. I haven't lost any weight for a while but I haven't gained any back as well. I don't know. I'm not feeling very motivated...I guess that's why I haven't been posting anything lately. If anyone has any motivating speeches to get back on track I'm all ears!

Take 2

I am back after 2 weeks of wailing and gnashing my teeth due to no weight loss. I went to the doctor for a check-up and I weighed the same as I had a month before. I about lost it. So I did something terrible and I didn't eat and when I did eat I ate too much and I didn't go to the gym and I cried about my lack of motivation and how pathetic and fat I was and then finally I told myself to get over it and that I'll do better this time. My insane friend Mary gets up at 5am every day to workout, so she encouraged me to do the same. 5am is unneccessary in my life, but 6am could work for me, so I did it this morning and I'm doing it for the next week. Hopefully it will jump start my metabolism and I can keep this going. I love love love having my workout done first thing in the morning and not having to worry about it throughout the rest of the day. Now, if I could just get some energy.....

back in the saddle

Well, after finding out I am pregnant, having company in town for a week, and spending several days on the Oregon Coast with my sisters and mom, I feel somewhat justified in experiencing a temporary BFL hiatus. But never fear! My excuses have officially run out and I am back at it. It feels so good to eat right and exercise.

for dinner tonight we had macaronilaatiko.
It's a finnish dish my brother learned about on his mission. I think it's BFL approved. Just ground beef, macaroni, and eggs. Topped with reduced fat cheese of course. So, in a casserole dish, spread the browned beef, top with macaroni and drizzle like 7 eggs evenly over it. top with cheese and bake at 375 for 35-40 minutes. Serve it with BBQ sauce or ketchup all over it. So basic, it almost sounds gross. But it's good! I promise.

Free Day

I used to look forward to free day every week. It was like a reward for sticking to the diet or something. Now, it's sickening. I still really like eating all the food I want but it makes me soooo sick now! We made hamburgers last night, the really fatty kind that are really good, with french fries and Henry Weinhard's orange creme soda. Yum! We chowed down and felt so happy until later that night when Erik and I felt sooooo sick. It's good that I am doing so well with the eating that my body rejects this fatty food but I still really like to eat all the junk! I'm torn between the fat me that wants to eat the crap and the skinny me crying out to eat the healthy stuff! Ahhhh!