Well, yesterday I had my week 16 weigh-in at the Medi-Weightloss Clinic and got some great news.  I am now down a total of 48.5 lbs!  Since week 14 I have officially lost 4.4 lbs. 

If you had said to me at the beginning of February when I began following Medi-Weightloss that I would be down nearly 50 lbs by June, I would have told you that you were crazy... that my body was so exhausted from yo-yo dieting that it would never lose so much so quickly again.  Thankfully, I would have been wrong. 

I know I have never mentioned my actual weight in my blog before but I think today is the day.  Im feeling really good about my progress and think Im finally ready to share that intimate detail.  When I began Medi-Weightloss in February I was 262.5 lbs.  I am now down to 214 lbs and nearly halfway to my goal of losing 127 lbs.  I am now the closest I have been to the weight I was when my husband and I met since... my husband and I met!  (I believe I was around 205-210 lbs then - May 2007) 

It was not long before that (May 2006) that I weighed the least amount I have in my adult life (175 lbs) after 18 months on the Atkins diet.  Unfortunately I was not meant to remain that size for long but I remember how much better I felt physically and mentally when I was able to do 200 sit ups/day and shop in non-plus size clothing stores.  My former friends Ben & Jerry had other plans for me though and I packed on 30 lbs over the course of a year between moving twice, getting divorced from my 1st husband, a short stint in the hospital, and then finally meeting my (now) hubby.  By the time we met, my dinner regularly included sugary drinks with candy/chips and the days of doing 100 sit ups twice/day were over. 

I think if I can reach 175 lbs again, that will put me someplace physically where Id feel comfortable trying to start a family but if I can make it to 135 lbs, that is where I WANT to be. 

One way to get where I want to be instead of where I am... resisting temptation, a difficult task for someone who could previously eat the majority of a large pizza followed by a 1/2 pound bag of skittles and a pint of ice cream.  My solution?  Strong flavors.

Yesterday at the grocery store I had a coupon for a dollar off a 12 oz bag of Seattles Best ground coffee.  Well, Stop & Shop doesnt carry Seattles Best so I decided I wanted a special flavor anyway, just to perk up my Saturday night.  The flavor of choice?  Godiva Chocolate Truffle.  O. M. G.  I could not have chosen better!  What incredible chocolate flavor and a nice amount of caffeine (it managed to keep me up till midnight and for those of you who dont know, I typically fall asleep on the couch around 9pm).  I definitely recommend this coffee to anyone who is a dieting choco-holic like me!!

Also, last night I made (for the 2nd time) a recipe my Medi-Weightloss Clinic had printed out copies of for everyone to take... I wanted to make it according to all the instructions (first time I left out the crushed red pepper flakes) before posting it here so I could say for sure how it was... and its incredible, although the red pepper flakes do make it pretty spicy so if you cant stomach spicy, leave them out but they definitely add a kick that is obviously missing without them.  Heres the recipe, enjoy!

Smokey Turkey Burgers

1.25 lbs ground turkey

1/2 cup chopped yellow onions

2 tsp whole ground cumin

1 tsp coriander

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp ground black pepper

1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

1 tsp chili powder

1 tsp garlic powder

Finely chop 1/2 cup of yellow onions.  Add onions and all the spices to the ground turkey, then mix with spatula or clean hands.  Form mixture into 4 oz patties.  Place on grill (or non-stick skillet) and cook for 3-4 minutes/side or until cooked through.  Nutrition Facts:  Serving Size, 1 patty; Calories, 157; Total Fat, 9g; Sat Fat, 2g; Monounsaturated Fat, 3g; Polyunsaturated Fat, 2g; Trans Fat, 0g; Cholesterol, 75mg; Sodium, 289mg; Potassium, 262mg; Total Carbohydrates, 2g; Dietary Fiber, 0g; Sugars, 0g; Protein, 17g.  ?

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To celebrate getting back into the habit of blogging after a whirlwind month that included moving, I am giving you a salad that is both super simple and very delicious. I dare you to not love this salad. Its a healthful easy to make salad for the lettuce phobic or just someone tired of the same old romaine routine. Technically it doesnt even need a recipe just a combination of six ingredients you probably have in your kitchen on a regular basis.

Aside from the amazing minimalism of it this is a beautiful salad. The contrast between the blueberries and carrot in color is reveled only by the juxtaposition of the crunchy and then sweet soft berries. It was outstanding with a lean steak and a microbrewed local beer. This was the perfect meal to christen my kitchen with and I fully plan on preparing many more of the salads from this article in the New York Times. My life needs more simple, light, no fuss dishes and the dwindling days of summer seems like the right time to work my way through 101 salads.

Blueberry and Carrot Salad

2 carrots, ribboned or grated
1 handful fresh blue berries
1/2 handful sunflower seeds
equal parts olive oil and lemon juice
lots of black pepper

Grate or ribbon carrots into a bowl. Toss on blueberries and sunflower seeds.

Whisk oil, lemon juice and pepper together. Pour over carrot mixture. Toss to coat.

From a recipe suggestion by Mark Bittman in the New York Times The Minimalist column.

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Salads dont get any easier than this. Even better it has no pesky lettuce in it so it will even please you lettuce haters out there. This has become my new go to recipe for using fennel, which I usually dont love raw. But between the sour apple and the mustard the fennel becomes much less intense and works to bring together all the flavors nicely.

My other recent discovery was this Shiraz and Mourvedre blend from Penfolds. It manages to be rich, dry, and just fruity enough all at once. And for $11-ish a bottle it drinks like a much pricier wine. Ive had to resist the urge to open a bottle of it every night this week.

Fennel and Apple Salad

1 bulb fennel, sliced thin
1-2 tart green apples (depending on how big your fennel bulb is), sliced thin

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1/2 tablespoon mustard

parsley


Slice very thin equal portions of fennel and tart apple and toss in a bowl.

Whisk together oil, vinegar, and mustard then toss over salad.

Top with parsley.

Recipe from Mark Bittman in The New York Times.

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I had my week 6 weigh-in this morning & Ive finally cleared that 25 lb mark. Im down another 2.2 lbs this week for a total loss of 26.3 lbs! And now Im celebrating with a manicure and pedicure. What could be better on a Saturday morning? I may even try my hand at some clothes shopping later... See if I can fit in a size 22 yet. I would love to be in an 18 before summer is over. Well typing from an iPod is harder than I thought so Ill write more again soon!

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I had my week 22 weigh-in yesterday morning and couldnt have been happier with the results! Apparently that bag of cherries really did disappear because I managed to lose 4 lbs! That puts me down a total of 56.7 lbs to date, weighing in at 205.8 with less than 10 lbs to go before I reach my halfway point. w00t!

Ill also be excited to break 200 lbs and have it feel like Im closer by having a 1 out front. lol

I just got finished pruning my overgrown pear tree (more of a workout than Ive had in a while!) and I feel great. Cant wait to see if it helps the fruit do better next year. The pears have been looking a little buggy and small for a couple of years so itd be nice to have them be edible again. :-)

Really looking forward to another good week and staying on track... Im so close to being where I need to be for us to start trying for a family that it almost feels like I should start considering how to cover up the hideous dark purple trim in the spare bedroom/hopefully-someday-nursery!

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Well another week has gone by and I had another weigh-in this morning. After 10 weeks on Medi-Weightloss I am now down a total of 39 lbs! This week I lost another 5.7 lbs and 5.2 lbs of that loss was fat! Im now down to a weight that actually matches my drivers license! lol

I also went clothes shopping earlier this week and was very surprised that a plus size 22 was too big. I had to buy size 20 pants! I cant wait to squeeze into an 18 because my basement is full of totes containing nothing but that size. Now I just need to work on slimming down through my hips and thighs, which may take some targeted toning. I was blessed/cursed with an hourglass figure of epic proportions. :-p

This weekend will likely include lots of sedentary time with the dog. My poor little guy gave himself a hot spot on his bum and now either has to wear the "cone of shame" or be under constant supervision. Hes not crazy about the cone (or being called "my little flower") so Ive been spending a lot of time with him. Maybe the hubby and I can take him for a walk later to cheer him up and get us moving a bit.

Only 88 lbs left to go, Im almost one third of the way there!!

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This morning I had my first follow up appointment at the clinic to find out how much weight I lost in my first week and the results are in!  I am officially down 10.7 lbs!!

Im really excited that I lost so much my first week.  Im just wondering how much Ill end up losing next week.  Ive added in a lot of food to my 600-700 calories of protein/day.  Ill now be allowed to have 1 healthy fat 1x/day or 3x/week (depending on what foods I choose).  For example, I could have 2 tsp of olive oil once per day OR I could have 10g of Almonds three times a week.  I also get 2 servings of non-starchy vegetables each day OR 1 serving of veggies and 1 serving of FRUIT!  Thats right, FRUIT!  I had 3 oz of grapes today and I honestly thought I had died and gone to heaven!  Grapes have never tasted so good.

I can also begin exercising.  Today I spent moving around a lot doing groceries at two different stores and then doing some light cleaning around the house so I figured I might start a routine tomorrow.  Im dying to try the Wii Zumba 2 game I bought last week on Amazon and Id love to get back on my Wii Fit Plus to do some yoga.  I might start out slow by doing just a little bit (15 mins or so) every day and just try to get in the habit of doing it daily so that working out feels like a normal part of my routine.  No different than flossing my teeth or feeding the dog.

Today I didnt end up eating until early afternoon because I was so busy this morning but heres an example of what Im going to be eating in the coming weeks based on todays choices:

• 1 Boca Burger w/ 1/2 tsp dijon mustard & 3 oz of red seedless grapes (130 Kcal)
• 2 oz of Boars Head Maple Glaze Honey Coat Ham w/1 tsp Boards Head Honey Mustard and 1 round of Babybel Light cheese (120 Kcal)
• 150g Nonfat Greek Vanilla Yogurt (120 Kcal)
• 4 oz Sirloin Filet Steak, 4 oz Jumbo Shrimp w/Hot & Sour Dipping Sauce and 1/2 cup steamed green beans (345 Kcal)
• 10g dry roasted salted almonds (63 Kcal)
• 1/2 cup sugar-free lime jello w/2 Tbsp Cool Whip Free (20 Kcal)

So all in all today I consumed 798 calories and honestly?  I feel great tonight with just that little bit extra.  I suppose thats good considering this will be my diet for the foreseeable future.  Its crunch time, lets see how fast I can lose all this weight!  Only 116 lbs to go!

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Well, its day 123 here on the Medi-Weightloss program and Ive already experienced the phantom smell of lemon pound cake in my office today so I figured I should probably find some motivation to update my blog with the weekends weigh-in results for week 17 while Im attempting to eat tuna salad without thinking about pound cakes of any sort.

Saturday morning I had my usual weigh-in at the clinic.  Im down another 1.2 lbs for a total loss to date of 49.7 lbs!  I was a bit disappointed in myself that I couldnt get down that other 1/3 of a pound to reach the 50 lb mark BUT Im glad I lost and really happy that 36.5 lbs of my total loss has been FAT!

This week is special because tomorrow is my 2nd wedding anniversary.  My hubby and I plan on going to our favorite Italian restaurant to celebrate.  Italian food may not sound like a good idea for someone following Medi-Weightloss but there are some days that are more important to me than others when it comes to enjoying a nice meal and my anniversary is one of those occasions.  Ive actually already reviewed the menu online and found a fairly healthy seafood dish that sounds wonderful (pan seared scallops drizzled in a balsamic reduction) and the nutrition information on the site puts the full dish at under 400 calories.  Chances of me being able to eat the entire meal?  Very slim!

So instead of making a bad choice tomorrow, Ive already made my choice so that I can enjoy my anniversary dinner guilt-free and without any "I hate this diet" meltdowns.

All thats left to do now, is figure out what to wear!

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Day 12 - L is for... Leaves

Day 13 - M is for... Praying "Mantis"

Day 14 - N is for... Nap

Day 15 - O is for... Orange Juice

Day 16 - P is for... Pizza

Day 17 - Q is for... Quilt

Day 18 - R is for... Regal Remington

I am extremely far behind on my photo a day posts. YIKES! I keep thinking I will get caught up, but Im still struggling. These pictures should have been posted the week before... sorry for my tardiness :)

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#1 Mixed grain bread with a little almond butter, sliced banana, raisins on top, and a sprinkling of cinnamon; serve with a glass of low fat milk.

#2 High fiber cereal, topped with mixed nuts, dried fruit, and a small glass of calcium fortified soy milk.

#3 Natural yoghurt mixed with a chopped apple, berries, and whole grain cereal; served with 100% whole orange juice.

#4 Healthy granola bar, one orange, and a glass of low fat milk.

#5 Whole wheat English muffin, toasted and thinly spread with reduced fat cottage cheese, topped with sliced pineapple; serve with a glass of 100% whole fruit juice.

#6 Natural yoghurt, topped with mixed berries, a teaspoon of ground flaxseeds, a slice of whole grain toast; and a cup of green tea.

#7 Swiss muesli - combine 2 cups of rolled oats, and 1 cup low fat milk or fruit juice, cover and refrigerate overnight. In the morning add 2 grated apples, 1/4 chopped hazelnuts, and 200g of low fat honey yoghurt, mix well (serves 4).

#8 Whole wheat English muffin topped with melted reduced fat cheese, a sliced tomato, and a sliced hard-boiled egg; served with a small glass of 100% pure fruit juice.

#9 Scrambled egg, sprinkled with a teaspoon of ground flaxseeds; served with mixed grain bread, fresh fruit salad, and a small glass of low fat milk.

#10 Cooked oats topped with raisins, dried cranberries, sliced bananas, and calcium fortified soy milk.

#11 Brown rice or barley - cook the night before, then in the morning top with some raisins, sliced apple, a sprinkling of cinnamon, and a little reduced fat milk.

#12 Whole wheat pita half topped with grilled Canadian bacon, a little reduced fat cottage cheese, tomatoes, and mushrooms; serve with 100% pure fruit juice.

#13 Fruit smoothie – add strawberries, kiwi, and a banana to the blender, a cup of natural yoghurt, one teaspoon of ground flaxseeds, and a cup of crushed ice.

#14 Mini wheat cereal, dried fruit, mixed nuts, place in a plastic bag and eat on the way to work with a thermos cup of low fat milk.

#15 Breakfast burrito – scrambled eggs, chopped tomatoes, and a little grated reduced fat cheese, wrapped in a whole wheat tortilla, served with green tea and a slice of fresh ginger.

#16 Whole grain bread topped with kippers, or smoked salmon, and sliced tomatoes; serve with two small apricots, and a cup of low fat milk.

#17 Homemade granola – mix 2 cups rolled oats, 1 cup of wheat cereal, 1 cup dried fruits and seeds, 1/4 cup of flaked coconut.

#18 Multi grain English muffin, toasted and spread with peanut butter, topped with sliced apples, and served with a small glass of calcium fortified soy milk.

#19 Multi grain cereal, topped with raisins, a sliced banana, and low fat milk.

#20 Healthy “blobs” – mix 1/2 cup peanut butter, 1/4 cup nonfat dry milk, 3 cups crushed flake cereal, and 2 tablespoons honey. Form into “blobs” (should make 10). Wrap each blob in plastic wrap and refrigerate. Grab a couple with a travel cup of skim milk and go! (From Nutritionist Alana Unger)

#21 Whole wheat bagel topped with reduced fat cottage cheese, sprinkled with flaxseed; serve with a small bowl of mixed berries, and a cup of herbal tea.

#22 Scrambled tofu, with onions, and peppers, a dash of light soy sauce, and stir-fry with a little olive oil. Serve with whole grain toast, and a glass of calcium fortified soy milk.

#23 Sandwich made with lean ham or turkey, in whole grain bread, topped with sliced tomatoes, and a small glass of reduced fat milk.

#24 Mini whole grain bagel, topped with almond butter, sliced apples, and a glass of 100% whole orange juice.

#25 Sliced melon tossed in a bowl with the pulp of one passion fruit, topped with natural yoghurt, and a handful of muesli.

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Week 23 was a bit challenging for me. I did well the first part of the week and then struggled as I approached my weigh-in. The longer I use Medi-Weightloss, the more I wish the acute phase was segmented somehow. I find myself getting anxious about when Ill learn to incorporate other foods without gaining weight. My biggest fear is not failure but the boomerang effect... Ending up right where I started once Ive lost it all or after we try to have kids.

This week I was up 0.4 lb. but managed to go down 2.5 lbs of fat and up almost the same in muscle.

To try and start my week off right, today I slept in a little after a late night of fishing and then did 25 crunches, 10 minutes of yoga, 8 minutes of step aerobics on my Wii Fit using the riser for the first time (my buns ache lol), and one song of zumba. I feel amazing and Ive even managed to avoid eating more than my allotted 12 cherries! It may not sound like much but this was the first time in a long time that I was excited to workout and thats a milestone.

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Im a little late with reporting my results this week but its been a very long and busy weekend.  I had my weigh-in at the Medi-Weightloss Clinic on Saturday morning and found that I had only lost 0.8 lb.  Oddly enough, last week I did do a lot more exercising than usual and was really trying to be diligent about keeping active but the numbers didnt reflect that effort.  Somehow my muscle mass was down and my fat mass was up... so this week Im going to be extra careful about my calories, portions and how often Im eating things like almonds and peanut butter.  I had been bad about keeping to only 3x/week on the nuts and its caught up to me. 

Mothers Day was kind of tough.  I actually didnt even bother to log my food Sunday because I had no idea how.  We went out to a brunch buffet and lets just say that I dont think everything I ate there was on the plan but I did at least try to stick to mostly meats and veggies that didnt have heavy sauces.  I even had dessert which I knew wasnt on the plan but I couldnt help myself.  Mothers Day is always a little depressing for me because I had always thought that I would be a mother by this point in my life.  But at 30 years old, Im still just mom to a cute little dog so I guess if I ever want for someone to celebrate me on Mothers Day then Ill have to be even more strict with myself on this diet so I can get started on having a family of my own. 

Ill keep my fingers crossed for my next weigh-in and hopefully it has better results, despite my hiccup on Mothers Day. 

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Not a good week for me.  I didnt feel like I had eaten anything that bad all week (aside from the temptation of my hubbys Kashi Island Vanilla cereal) but I ended up gaining 2.5 lbs and am now at a total loss of 58 lbs instead of reaching my halfway point.

Being the moody brat that I am at times, I cheated all weekend out of frustration.  Birthday cookie, birthday cake, some sort of rice salad, bread, an English muffin - you name it, I ate it.  So today Im feeling slightly hungrier than usual from pigging out all weekend but Im feeling a bit more committed to the cause after having gotten it all out of my system (for now).

Again I find myself wishing that Medi-Weightloss had multiple phases for the actual losing of weight instead of one (acute) phase that tortures you with a lack of food choices until youve reached goal.  Then again, this is how most dieting COMPANIES make their money - they promise results that are definitely obtainable but they forget to tell you that in order to get those results you are going to have to make yourself and everyone around you at every meal miserable until you reach your goal and after that youll only be slightly less miserable once you begin to relearn how to incorporate ALL foods back into your diet.

*super sigh*

So Ive got some work to do and Ive got kind of a bad attitude about the whole thing at this point but Ive managed to stick with more strict diets for longer so ... here goes nothing!  Wish me luck next week... I really need to hear some words of encouragement before I have another incident of literally begging for a piece of red velvet cake.

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It took me pretty much six years to do it, but Im so proud of myself and can finally say I completed my Masters in Gerontology Degree!!! And it feels so good!

And even though it has been over a month since I did any kind of school work I still find myself panicking at times about what assignment I have due next! 

Truly though, its a great feeling to having nothing to worry about except planning for a new member of our family.

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Today is Day 102 in Week 15 of being on the Medi-Weightloss diet.  Saturday I had my Week 14 weigh-in and was pretty pleased with the results.  I lost another 1.2 lbs for a total loss to date of 43.9 lbs.  Thats still averaging 3+ lbs/week overall.  And even better than that was that I lost 4 lbs of fat, putting me for the first time at under 100 lbs of total body fat.  I also gained 2.8 lbs of muscle, so it looks like last weeks daily crunches plus Wii Yoga & time on the treadmill really paid off. 

This weekend was also good for exercise on Saturday because we got out fishing for a few hours.  One of our fishing spots even included some minor hiking, which is always a good workout.  Im hoping that the upcoming 3 day weekend puts us out fishing in another favorite spot of ours that includes a hike in of 1/2-3/4 mile.... although the last time we went there I ended up with a tick buried in my back for 3 days so I havent been real excited about going back since then.  Ill have to just make sure my shirt collar is tighter fitting this time.

Yesterday I had a total food meltdown, ordering Chinese food for lunch and eating ramen noodle soup for dinner.  Very bad day for dieting but a good day for my mental health because I just didnt have it in me to keep track of anything yesterday I was so tired and needed some real rest - including a rest from policing myself.  But Im back on track today and hoping to make the rest of the week better.

My mom has also joined me in following MWCs plan so I hope that it works as well for her as it has for me so far.  Shell be doing it on her own with help from me because in all reality the clinic fees are just too high for most people - I only afford them because my Dad is helping me pay every week, otherwise I wouldnt have ever had the money to join.

My mom and I are going to have our own weigh-in on Saturday morning this week at 9am because my clinic is closed for the holiday weekend - so were going to take advantage of my Wii Fit and weigh-in there.  Lets hope for some really amazing results for both of us this week!

And over the weekend I made an old favorite of a recipe, with some doctoring (of course).  Rachael Ray made a cookbook a few years ago called Rachael Rays 30-Minute Get Real Meals: Eat Healthy Without Going to Extremes and one of my favorite recipes from this cookbook has always been the Green and White Lightning Chunky Chicken Chili except that the recipe always seemed a little too watery for my tastes - so here is my doctored version of her recipe making it much heartier and still Medi-Friendly!

Medi-Friendly Green & White Lightning Chicken Chili
Yield:  4 servings

Olive Oil Non-Stick Cooking Spray
1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into bite size pieces
1 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded & minced
2 cups fat free reduced sodium chicken broth
1/2 cup tomatillo salsa (mild or medium)
1 can (15 oz) cannellini (white kidney) beans, mash half of them thoroughly with a fork and leave the other half whole
1 Tbsp cumin
1/2 Tbsp ground coriander
1-2 Tbsp flat leaf parsley, coarsely chopped
1-2 Tbsp cilantro, coarsely chopped
Juice of 1 lime
Salt & Pepper to taste

Heat a 6 qt. stock pot over medium-high heat.  Spray with olive oil cooking spray and add chicken pieces.  Season as desired with salt and pepper.  Cook 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently.  Youre just looking to very lightly brown the chicken on all sides.  Add onion, garlic, jalapeno, cumin and coriander.  Cook another 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently.  Stir in chicken broth and salsa.  Bring to a simmer.  Add both whole and mashed beans and stir thoroughly.  The mashed beans should thicken the broth.  Simmer 10 minutes then remove from heat and add lime juice, cilantro and parsley.  Serve hot.  Note:  Shredded reduced-fat monterey jack cheese can be added as a topping but I have left it out of this recipe and the accompanying nutrition information, since the chili really doesnt need it.  Nutrition Info (per serving):  Calories 259.6; Total Fat 2.8g, Saturated Fat 0.4g, Polyunsaturated Fat 0.4g, Monounsaturated Fat 0.6g; Cholesterol 65.7 mg; Sodium 841.2mg (note that this does not reflect the addition of salt "to taste"); Potassium 350.3mg; Total Carbohydrate 25.4g, Dietary Fiber 7.1g, Sugars 4.2g; Protein 33.9g

Admittedly, this dish has a few more carbohydrates per serving than you would typically have in Medi-Friendly recipes; however, the majority of those carbs are from the white kidney beans.  In using one 15 oz. can of beans, you are including 3.5 1/2 cup servings of cannellini so it is important to not eat more than 1 serving of this chili in a single day so you dont go over your allowed carbs/beans for the day.  If you are having friends over, you can also serve this chili with corn chips so they dont feel like theyre eating "diet food".  It scoops really well!  If you prefer milder chili, reduce jalapeno by 1/2 and use mild tomatillo salsa.  If you prefer hotter chili, include some of the jalapeno seeds and use medium/hot tomatillo salsa.  Enjoy!

EDIT 5/21/12:  I almost forgot to mention that I have also officially quit smoking!  I have been 100% nicotine free for over 1 week now - no patches, no shorts, no drags off someone elses cigarette, no "stress" cigarettes!  Im so happy that I was able to finally kick the habit.  The patches worked wonders once I realized I had to try equally hard to quit smoking as I was trying to lose weight - both were equally important to me so Im really happy I can finally say Im smoke-free FOR GOOD!  1 week may not sound like much but Ive actually been wearing nicotine patches on and off since February when I began Medi-Weightloss.  I stumbled a couple of times along the way but persistence got me all the way through all three "steps" of nicotine patches and now Im out the other side with one less bad habit to drag me down!

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This morning I had my week 7 weigh-in at the Medi-Weightloss clinic.  I was originally anxious about this weigh-in because last week was the smallest amount I had lost so far and truthfully I had a couple of weak moments through week 7 where I overate on grapes, almonds or peanut butter BUT I surprised even myself with this weeks results.  Drum roll please!

In week 7 I lost 4.7 lbs for a total weight loss (to date) of 31 lbs!!!  Looks like I didnt need to wait the full 8 weeks to say I lost 30 lbs after all, that was definitely a nice surprise! 

Today I made it out to an Asian grocery store and plan on making Tom Yum soup for dinner tonight.  If youve never had this incredible Thai soup, it is really quite amazing with all of the classic Thai dish flavors (sweet, salty, sour, and spicy... I think).  It contains lemongrass, basil, ginger, garlic, shrimp, mushrooms and much more.  If the recipe is as good as it sounds I will definitely post a link to it here (I found it online).  Cant wait to try making this on my own though.  Ive already gotten the hang of making Thai curries so itll be fun to learn another popular dish. 

And to think, the inspiration for this was an extra bag of frozen shrimp that was starting to get freezer burned!

Heres hoping that week 8 is just as successful as week 7.  96 lbs to go!!

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Well it was a very busy weekend but I somehow managed to squeak in a weigh-in on Saturday morning.  I didnt hold out much hope for losing weight this past week because of going out to eat for my anniversary and having an incredibly busy schedule that didnt allow for much exercise so I was more than a little surprised when the Medi-Weightloss Clinics nurse said, "I think youre going to be happy this week!" 

Somehow I managed to drop 3.3 lbs!  1.5 lbs of that was fat and my total weight loss to date is now a whopping 53 lbs!!!  I finally crossed that 50 lb threshold and I am now over 41% of the way to my goal of losing 127 lbs!

Unfortunately my good news was not a good motivator for avoiding carb-heavy foods this weekend.  I attended a friends wedding on Saturday where I indulged in quite a bit of wine plus 3 out of 4 courses (skipping only dessert) and then ate a sliver of carrot cake on Fathers Day at my sister-in-laws house because... well, I have no good reason.  That carrot cake just looked damn good.  I should have been stronger but I feel better today about getting back on track and being better motivated throughout this week.  I wont even talk about the grilled cheese sandwich I splurged on last night out of desperation for one last weekend splurge. 

One thing Ive learned from my weekend of bad choices:  The grass isnt always greener on the other side.  Mashed potatoes, cake, starchy soup... none of those things helped me achieve my goals or helped me feel better about myself... just the opposite.  When my willpower is strong, it is admirable and inspiring.  When it is weak, so too will be my results.  So, Ill wait to try anymore cake or potatoes until Im a little closer to where I want to be instead of subconsciously holding myself back in fear of the future.

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1. What is your goal? Many diets fail because the target is uncertain. If you are not sure what your ideal weight should be, you will never be satisfied with the results, as you can always lose "just a few pounds more".

2. When has the problem started? It is possible that you started to overeat in response to an emotional trauma or a significant life event. If so, careful examination of the situation will help you deal with the real reason behind your overeating.

3. What is your "dieting history"? If you already have an experience of a failed diet, try to describe it in great detail. If you will be able to spot when and why do you normally get stuck, you will avoid similar problems in the future.

4. In what situations do you normally overeat? Perhaps, you reach out for chocolate when you are stressed or start eating more when you feel tired? In that case, you need a rest or an emotional support, not an extra slice of pizza.

5. Where do you overeat? Do you snack at work or are you hiding crisps in the car and eat them when no one is watching? Knowing your eating patterns will help you avoid the "risky" situations.

6. What are you saying to yourself when you overeat? Quite possibly, you are feeling guilty or blaming yourself. Constant self-criticism will not help you lose weight, but might well push you into more "comfort eating".

7. Do you like yourself? Have a good look in the mirror and give a honest answer. Do you like yourself right now, not when you will be 10 kg lighter? In your quest for a perfect body you will need an ally and that ally is you!

8. What was the attitude towards thin/fat people in your family of origin? Perhaps you are just replicating old statements, mentally repeating that "In our family people are big" or believing that "thin people are unhealthy".

9. Could you describe a typical mealtime in your family of origin? Were you told to eat up everything on your plate even if you did not like the food? Perhaps in your mind you are still listening to your parents and feel obliged to finish your meal, rather than listen to your body.

10. And the last question - can you imagine yourself in the future, having achieved your target weight? Try to picture yourself: What are you wearing? How are you feeling? How are people reacting to the "new you"? If you feel uncomfortable doing this visualization, you might have a few psychological barriers to overcome before starting on a diet.

The easier and more pleasant the visualization will become, the more ready you will be to lose weight for good.

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Its now week 9 and Saturday morning I had my weigh-in for week 8.  I lost another 2.5 lbs!  Thats a total loss of 33.5 lbs and on top of that, Ive lost a total of 5 inches from my waist!  Not bad for two months work, if I do say so myself. 

For Easter today Ive made a Medi-Friendly dessert to bring to my grandmothers house.  Its actually an old recipe of hers that Ive adapted to fit into my Medi-Weightloss plan.  Check out the recipe below & Enjoy!

Cool Whip Salad
8oz Cool Whip Sugar Free (or Cool Whip Fat Free)
16 oz fat free cottage cheese
1 small box (0.30 oz) sugar-free orange Jell-o, as packaged
1 can (15 oz) Del Monte No Sugar Added Mandarin Oranges made with Splenda, drained

Thaw  frozen Cool Whip in the refrigerator until creamy.  Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl & refrigerate at least 2 hours.  Makes about 8 servings, 1/2 cup each.  [Nutrition Info per serving: 128 kcal, 3g fat (3g sat fat), 2.5 mg cholesterol, 233 mg sodium, 45 mg potassium, 18g carbs (0.5g fiber, 6g sugar), 7.5g protein]  Note that the mandarin oranges account for the majority of carbohydrates and also include sugar alcohol which is shown to not negatively impact glucose levels but can cause some abdominal discomfort if eaten in quantity. 

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Well today is my last day of week 9 on Medi-Weightloss and I had my weigh-in this morning before work.  Originally I had my weigh-in scheduled for Saturday at 10:30 am but Saturday is opening day of fishing season and the hubby wanted to get an early start so I rescheduled.  Unfortunately that means that I had 2 fewer days to lose on the week following Easter dinner BUT my news wasnt all bad.

Everything said & done, I actually GAINED 0.2 lb (which is trivial at best) but LOST 1.3 lbs of FAT.  Id say thats a winning situation considering I overate last Sunday AND ate Chinese food one night this week.  The Chinese food happened because I honestly just had a craving and it wouldnt go away so I figured just get it out of my system so I could get back on track.  I ordered well (Moo Goo Gai Pan and Beef Teriyaki) and ate probably half of what I would have eaten previously (if not less), so it was a splurge and it didnt do too much damage - although the sodium probably contributed to my excess water this week. 

Despite my minor bump up in weight Im proud to have gotten enough exercise this week (through filing, walking & moving furniture around) that I was still able to lose a significant amount of fat. 

And last night I made an old favorite for dinner.  My husbands grandmother passed away last year and left a legacy of wonderful food in our hearts.  This recipe is one of hers that we both love and is even Medi-Friendly!

Squash & Eggs

1 medium zucchini, peeled & diced (~3/4 cup total)
1/2 medium yellow onion, diced (~1/4 cup total)
1 clove garlic, minced
6 large eggs
1 Tbsp Fat Free Parmesan Topping
butter flavored non-stick spray
salt & pepper to taste

Heat large frying pan over medium heat and spray with non-stick butter flavored spray.  Add zucchini, onion & garlic.  Saute vegetables until onions are translucent and squash is tender.  In a large bowl, beat eggs with a wire whisk.  Lower heat under vegetables slightly and add beaten eggs, salt & pepper.  Scramble in the pan occasionally to keep from sticking.  When eggs & vegetables are almost set but still slightly runny, sprinkle with Parmesan topping (or Parmesan/Romano cheese) and scramble again to mix in the cheese.  Allow to fully set in the pan then serve hot. 

Note:  This makes enough for 2-4 people, depending on the meal, side dishes, etc.  Also reheats very well for make-ahead breakfasts to just pop in the microwave.  Original recipe would have used butter or olive oil to cook the veggies and Parmesan or Romano cheese in place of the topping.

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