Whew... I maintained over Christmas!

     Well, I did it! I am a little amazed that I didn't gain over Christmas! As of Dec 21 I was down 29 pounds and 3.3% bodyfat. I had been on plan for 50 days and I THOUGHT I was in need of a little splurge.  I did a quick phase off so that I could have some of my holiday favorites... I did phase 2 for 2 days, phase 3 for 2 days then was on P4 (maintenance) for 3 days.  I chose not to have any alcohol because I knew that it would lead to some EXTREME cheats. I did have a few Christmas cookies, stuffing, 2 Tom and Jerry's and coconut cake (over the 3 days).  For the first time in many years I didn't feel like I was going to explode after the holiday feast. I tolerated all my wonderful family members just fine without the glasses of wine I drank in the past. I felt good, no guilt or shame due to the food coma I had experienced in the past. All 3 days I took note of the calories in the extra food I ate. It was scary! Each Peanut butter blossom has 150 calories! Stuffing, 200 calories and coconut cake a whopping 450 calories, depending on the size!  It made me keep things in moderation when I was aware of the calories in some of my favorite foods!

     Yesterday was a beautiful day and I wanted to test out my new running shoes santa brought me. My ambition got the best of me, I jogged to Linn Mar which was around 2.5 miles and when I got there I realized that I had to jog home.  My running shoes were great but my thighs were calling for help. After more than an hour I got home and my husband asked if I got lost. He reminded me that it was September the last time I jogged. My response was quick when I told him I was 30 pounds heavier and I'm not THAT out of shape.  I walked to the bathroom with confidence and about collapsed as I shut the door to the bathroom! My joints were sore, my back hurt and my thighs were calling for help! The rest of the day was pretty mellow and low key.  Riley and Noah had a couple of friends stay the night and I needed a little time to myself. Santa had also brought me a new avocado mud mask, hair ties and candles. I put on some relaxing music, lit the candle and filled the tub with warm water. My joints needed some relief so I added some lavender essential oil, baking soda, Epson salt and fresh ginger. After soaking for about 10 minutes Noah was beating on the door needing to use the bathroom, the other one was occupied.  I covered up opened the door. He screamed because of the mask on my face. We both laughed and my peaceful bath had come to a screeching hault. Oh the joy of having kids :)!

     As of today, It is Monday and I'm back at phase 1. The scale was staring at me when I walked into work today and I couldn't avoid it. I weighed myself and was very relieved that it was the same as last week! Thank goodness! As for today I packed a large amount of veggies, water bottle and I'm drinking a cup of Detox total tea as I write. Overall I'm feeling great! I'm still in the proper ideal protein state of mind and wanting to take another 10-15 pounds off. My goal is also to get up 3 days a week and do some sort of physical activity (yoga, stretching, elliptical) & drink 80oz of water everyday. Life is good and I feel good! Good luck to you if you are on track or getting back on track! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and have a Happy New Year?!? I'm excited for what 2015 has to offer!!!
                  Audi surprised me and came home 2 days early from the Air Force :) So happy to have my family together!

Staying focused! 42 days and going strong!

     Whew, It has been a whirlwind of a couple of weeks! We went to Biloxi, Innovative Aesthetics Open House,  Christmas shopping, packing, boys basketball games, practices and we moved. Oh yeah, work :) Lots going on! It hasn't been always easy but I am happy to say that I have stayed on track and not cheated! As those of you that have done the Ideal Protein program in the past you know that your not very hungry on the diet. I have some temptations but I know that If I start to have cheats or BLT's (bites, licks and tastes) It will snowball out of control and I will be eating like past years before I know it! My biggest struggle the past couple of weeks has been remembering to eat. Robert has reminded me on multiple occasions and made me stop and take a breather.  Precut veggies from Hy Vee have saved me on more than one occasion. I have also eaten Subway salads, Jimmy Johns unwich, pickles and rotisserie chicken from Sams, Fresh Market and Hy Vee.  I have not made many recipes mainly because lack of time but I couldn't find my pans for a couple of days. I wouldn't have thought it could've been done, but I have done it!
     In past years the month of December is a free for all! I eat like I have never eaten before and I may never eat again. Kind of like Will Farrell in Elf... I often gain at least 5-10 pounds every December knowing that I will be dieting in January.  I remember one year I ate so many sugar cookies (30) that I actually got sick. I LOVE sugar cookies, my Aunt Gails are AMAZING! I also love pb kiss cookies, chocolate covered pb balls and pb filled ritz crackers covered in chocolate... Oh yeah, &&& wine!   My mouth just literally watered! Anyway, I have had all of my favorites before and I can do without this year. I'm still watching my favorite holiday shows, looking at Christmas lights, listening to Christmas music and looking forward to spending family time together.

 

I have said this in past posts but I am in the right state of mind. I know I can do this! Not thinking about what I can't have but what I can have, living day to day!

 

If your doing phase 1 right now or you are waiting until Jan 1, 2015 I understand. All of us here at Innovative Aesthetics are here for you and will be for years to come. I hope regardless of what your doing your enjoying the holiday season, your family and the people you love most! Happy Holidays :)

~Dusty

 

December is here!

     Please accept my apologies as I haven't posted for the past couple of days.  I can't find many more hours in the day! Since getting home from Mississippi I have been running from morning til night! Catching up on work, packing, sorting, painting and driving back and forth from the NW side of CR to Marion. By the time I sit down at night I can't even think of what to write and as I write now, I am thankful for spell check! Robert is out of town for work, which is a good thing. I seem to get more done when he's not distracting me trying to be silly.
     This week I'm very thankful for premade drinks, my camelback and Hy Vee. Each morning I have been drinking a premade chocolate drink along with a stiff cup of coffee. It is extra bold, I warned Sherri our laser specialist that I may have hair on my chest after drinking the bold coffee this week (just kidding) :/ The boldness of the coffee is keeping me on point as I run around like a chicken with my head cut off!
     Thank goodness for precut veggies in the produce section at Hy Vee.  I have been living on fresh cut peppers, broccoli and zucchini.  I even bought pre boiled eggs Monday night, Robert would be so irritated that I didn't boil my own.
     Monday night Noah and I stopped at Los Glorias and had dinner. I took Salt and Vinegar crisps and dipped in fresh pico and salsa. For dinner I chose the shrimp and chicken salad, with no cheese/sour cream/guac.  I could eat this salad daily, its DELISH! After dinner I had to go through countless totes and drawers of clothes that I never wear. I counted 22 pairs of jeans ranging from size 8-14.  I even had a tote of paint clothes that haven't been worn in 5 years. After filling the back of my vehicle with clothes, shoes and boots for Goodwill I was exhausted and ready for bed.  
     Tuesday I had a half day and I was determined to get the new house cleaned and bedroom painted.  I cleaned the upstairs and went to the basement to clean. No one has lived in the house for close to a year.  It wasn't 'dirty', just needed a good scrub. I turned a light on in the basement bedroom and a fairly large spider crawled across the floor. FYI, I HATE spiders! I quickly smashed it with my painting shoes and headed to the closet to sweep.  I noticed a couple more Charlottes! Then I turned around and ran face into a web! I probably would have been on funniest home videos if someone was filming.  I screamed, flung my arms around and ran upstairs. I was done in the basement until the Orkin man could come out Wednesday morning. Off to the bedroom to paint.  Painting is something that I don't mind, but takes time.  After taping and painting the first wall I had enough. There were to many other things on my list to do and painting was taking to much time. I called a local painter and he agreed to come out Thursday for a small fee :( Once again, Robert would not be happy if he knew I had an Orkin man or Painter coming over to take care of the things he would normally do.

     After cleaning, painting and getting the spider web out of my hair I was ready to go home.  It was 8:30 and I was starving. I stopped at Hy Vee and they were out of rotisserie chicken. I was bummed! So I skimmed the warm food at the deli. I would have loved some chicken strips, jello fluff and mashed potatoes but I didn't give into temptation! I went with the shriveled salmon and pencil thin overcooked asparagus, I was starving so I didn't really care. I could've eaten the leather off the bottom of my shoe!
     Today was a busy but good day! Premade chocolate for breakfast and coffee. I had a lunch meeting at Popoli's and chose the Cobb salad with no cheese and oil/vinegar. It was very good but lacked 8oz of protein that I was hoping for.

  When I returned to work Janette made roast beef in the crockpot for sampling Wednesday and I had a couple ounces to complete my protein consumption for the day. Mid afternoon I was craving something sweet. The apple cinnamon oatmeal was a perfect fix! Dinner consisted of a big salad, warm chocolate shake and packing :)
     The past 3 days I haven't prepped the best but that is where you have the option to pay someone else to do it for you :) I'm happy I have that option! Tomorrow is our Winter Open House at Innovative Aesthetics and it is going to be a FULL, BUSY, LONG day! I love the open houses every year! I love seeing existing clients and meeting new! It makes me so proud to be part of an awesome company!
   By now my Christmas décor is usually up and I have watched Polar Express 10 times (at least)but not this year. The only tree I have up is the one plugged into my computer. It is keeping me in the holiday spirit along with Christmas favorites on Pandora. Feeling good that I have stuck to plan and not given into the busy, no planning cravings that I have given into in the past. I will keep plugging away and keeping a smile on my face :)

~Dusty