Holiday @ Perdido Key, FL

I am posting this late for July, since it's been rather hectic, and I've really slacked off at journaling lately. These are my most up-to-date photos, taken in Perdido Key, FL. I spent a little over a week there and actually managed to maintain my weight the entire holiday, despite eating out and not really logging every morsel of food!
It felt great being on the beach! I ran a few times and even played a little tennis.
It was nice not having to think about every calorie and maintaining at the same time.
However, that is not sustainable for me atm!

Running Motivation

It’s been another month, and I still have little to report. I am at the same weight at the end of August as I was at the beginning: 149.2!

I’ve been yo-yoing, bouncing around for the past 4 weeks between 154-149. It is totally my own fault with weekend splurges and poor choices.

Last week, I decided to make running my #1 priority. I added the Harbor Town Bay Bridge 2x/week for interval hill training and increased the mileage to 5.4! Surely, 16 miles/week will show some advantage to me on the scale!

Sunsets over The Mississippi River @ Harbor Town
create an inviting atmosphere for running!

Harbor Town Bay Bridge

Summer Update

Ok, it’s time to do a mid-summer post to update this blog.

I have been really busy with fresh produce this summer and it only just started. I’ve picked and prepared wild Himalayan Blackberries, field and sweet corn, cabbage, and green beans. My family still has acres of corn, purple-hull peas, green beans, watermelons, and okra left to do toward the end of July.

I am still pretty much sticking with lower carbs when I’m on my “on plan” days and still going a bit overboard on weekends when I am de-railed. Hence, I am losing at a very slow pace, which sucks—BIG TIME!

Weigh-Ins

13 mAY 2011 [154.4]

20 mAY 2011 [154.2]

27 mAY 2011 [153.4]

03 jUNE 2011 [155]

10 jUNE 2011 [152.6]

17 jUNE 2011 [151.8]

24 jUNE 2011 [149.8]

01 jULY 2011 [150.6]

08 jULY 2011 [150.4]

Highly Processed Carbs

There has been a ton of info out on what contributes to obesity among cultures. So, I decided to look into my own diet profile and really find out, in particular, "What makes me fat"? My conclusion: Highly Processed Carbs!

I used to live on crackers, Strawberry Newtons, and cereal (almost any kind). I looked at the nutritional content and paid most attention to cals and fat--which were low, so I could eat a bunch of it--and boy, did I!!

The problem for me--and lots of other people--was that while they may have been low in calories and fat, they turned into straight sugar in my bloodstream very quickly once I consumed it, which is bad. My body didn't have to do any work to digest it and there was really no nutrients in it to use. Furthermore, I could eat several servings to fill myself up and in 30 minutes-1hour later, I was hungry again, thereby reaching for a similar highly processed carb to satisfy my hunger.

Another thing I noticed--even now--while eating highly processed carbs, I have HUGE cravings for more of it, as well as HUGE cravings for sugar. The very last thing I need is to satisfy this monster of a body I have with sugar .

I have completed 3 weeks during the week of being off highly processed carbs, via the South Beach Diet plan. And while I have been weak some days, it has really helped me stop craving food. Also, I have been able to lose weight somewhat effortlessly by cutting them out of my diet. South Beach Diet is awesome for those who can tolerate trying to give the highly processed carb addiction up as long as you are open to discovering new food that you may have never tried before. This is PERFECT for me; because I love food, and I love trying and discovering new food to love!

I am creating a list of foods (as you can probably tell, I love lists) that contribute to highly processed carbs. This way, I can revert back to it and remind myself why I no longer buy and consume this junk when I'm at the market! I am also going to add some high glycemic index foods in this list, because these foods contribute to the problem I have as well. I'll asterick the high GI ones :)

Highly Processed Carb Foods to Limit or Avoid
Cereal
Crackers (Wheat Thins, CheezeIts, Toasty)
Cookies (Newtons, NutraGrain Bars)
Sandwich Bread
Cake/Pie
Donuts
Chips
Lean Cuisine/Smart Ones Entrees with rice or noodles
Spaghetti Noodles
Tacos/Burritos/Nachos
Fried Rice/Eggrolls/Spring Rolls
Breaded Chicken Strips
Bananas*
Pineapple*
Muffins
Cornbread
Waffles/Pancakes
Fruit Juice
Ice Cream Cones (sugar/waffle)
Candy Bars

Binging or Cheating

I was having difficulty with the terms “binging” versus “cheating” on my plan, so I decided to ask a few of my fellow 3FC forum posters what their definition was and this was their responses:

1^st Responder

Cheat: Eating a food that I might usually avoid because of my lifestyle change or eating a certain food that I usually limit because it is high in fat/calories...

Binge-uncontrolled eating usually triggers by intense feelings of guilt, stress, past issues.....I usually consume large quantities of food in a short period of time, done in secret, kinda the eat mindlessly actually more like the gorge on food without appreciating or tasting....

2^nd Responder

For me, cheating is going off my plan, it would usually be a snack that wasn't planned for or adding another wedge of cheese. Something in moderation that would not impact my weight loss or derail my progress. It's also usually a one-time event during a day/week.

For me binging is not only going off my plan, but losing control to the point where I eat anything and everything that I wanted. It could last a few hours. I used to go on for multiple days until I felt sick, though that hasn't happened in a long time, which in itself is a minor miracle.

3^rd Responder

Cheat = Eating 1-3 servings of off plan food (not allowable food). This can be bread, candies, desserts.

Overeating = Eating 3 servings of on plan food (allowable food).

Binge = Eating 4 or more servings of off plan or on plan food (allowable or not allowable foods).

This is a good thing for me. I cheat far more than I binge, which is a great thing!! I am planning to use these definitions and the 3^rd Responder’s measurable guide as a format of when I actually do binge.

This past weekend wrapped up 3 of the 3 birthday’s I had to attend this month (my mom’s). I took her ½ of an Italian Cream Cake I had purchased (one of my faves). I could have seriously eaten the entire cake in 2 sittings, but instead of binging, I decided to share!! Yaaa

Pecan "Crepes"--It's What's for Breakfast!

I love pecan pancakes, especially those from Cracker Barrel. However, I don't like all of the calories and carbs associated with them--and ultimately that "starving" feeling that carbs give you a couple hours later.

Well, I am pleased to announce--Thanks to a kind, innovative South Beach Dieter
and a little creativity of my own ,
I have made an extremely yummi alternative.

Ingredients
1. 1/4 cup Egg Whites
2. 1/4 cup Regular Egg Beaters
3. 1/8 cup (31 grams) Part Skim Ricotta Cheese
4. 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
5. Dash of Pumpkin Pie Spice
6. 1/2 packet Splenda
7. 15 grams chopped pecans
8. 15 mL Sugar Free Syrup
9. I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Spray

Directions
Place ingredients 1-6 in a small food processor/chopper.
(I have a Black N Decker Mini Pro)
Spin a couple times.
Pour batter into a 1 cup liquid measuring cup (easier to pour).
Heat a 6" skillet and spray with nonstick cooking spray.
(I use butter flavor)
Place about 10 or so pecans in the pan. Cover with a small amount of batter. Swirl the pan around to make the crepe really thin. It should look similar to this:

Flip over when the first side is golden brown on the bottom. Makes 6 crepes.
Don't try to get by with 4 or 5 using a 6" skillet.
These are BEST served very thin!
Serve with 8 & 9.

Nutrition Information
via My Fitness Pal
Calories: 210
Fat: 13 g
Protein: 16 g
Fiber: 2 g
Sodium: 283 mg
Carbs: 10 g

Sleep:Rest:Siesta

Whatever your coin term is for lying still with your eyes closed in complete REM (rapid eye movement), YEP! that's describes me to a tee on Monday! As if the pizza binge last Friday wasn't bad enough, I topped it off with a high selection of poorly processed carbs on Saturday & Sunday while I was at work! (buhu)
By Monday, I felt horrible! No exercise, poor choices in non-nutritive food coupled with two 13 hr back-to-back shifts was enough to leave me feeling, well, pretty BLAH!!

Monday morning, when I finally did have the opportunity to rest, I took a Natrol Melatonin Fast Dissolve 5mg and boy, was I ever in for a sleep that has only been recorded in the history books beside the name "RIP Van Winkle". OMG!! I seriously slept for 19 hrs--one nine, nineteen, diecinueve, the number before 20 and after 18. I woke up at midnight Monday and was awake for 2 hrs--reading--and then decided to take 1/2 of another Mel tab to go back to sleep as to return to my day schedule--yeah, that thing I call my real life!

I slept an additional 5 hrs, got up at 0700 and wondered what day it was. I had missed an entire day!!! I was determined not to miss Tuesday, so I took my K9s to the park for a pathetic excuse for a walk, only to yawn the entire time I was there! The drive home proved to be a challenge, as I nodded over the steering wheel. Luckily, I don't live that far from the local park.

I made it home in time for a 3 hr nap before dinner! WoW!! Talk about

I'm skipping tonight's dose. After looking at the website, I see it comes in different strengths. I can't imagine taking 10mg of this supplement!

I can say this about it--"It definitely works!"