Day 52

The schedule I am keeping these days, with work and practices is killing my weight loss, good thing I have been running alot, so I am at least maintaing my weight. So far this week I a stayed stable on the weight which is good. Im planing a big weekend of running 8 on saturday and 5 on sunday. So maybe that will help. I cheated again today and will again tommorow night at the kids school fun fair.

Breakfast: Cinimon Roll, yogurt, banana
Snack: HB Egg, Apple
Lunch: Brocolli Soup, Salad, bread
Snack: NS Zesty Mix
Dinner: Schezuan chicken, Eggroll
Snack: None

Day 51

My car is in the shop, so I was working from home today. This is always a dangerious time for me because the food is always there calling me. I did good, and stayed away from the food and was able to get a 5 mile run in at lunch. To make sure I stay away from the nice weather and the food, I worked from a desk we have in the basement. I got whatever food I need and went back down. Its sad I still cant trust myself around all the food. I think thats why I do so well on the weekdays at work.

Breakfast: PB Granola, greek yogurt, banana
Snack: Cheese Stick, Apple
Lunch: Ham and Bean Soup, Salad, bread and Almond Butter
Snack: BBQ Soy chips, Bread and almond butter, Apple
I had another bread and almond butter and an apple because I was really hungry after the 5 mile run
Dinner: PotRoast, carrots, potato, salad
Snack: None

Day 50

Was on plan until dinner tonight. My son had baseball practice tonight and I barely had time to get home from work and get him to practice, so I didnt have time to eat. Practices have been running a couple of hours so were not usually back home til around 8pm. So I broke down and ran through mcDonalds and got a grill chicken sandwich meal. I tasted really good, I have to admit, not good. No more of those, or it could become a habit.

Breakfast: PB Ganola, greek yogurt, banana
Snack: HB Egg, Apple
Lunch: NS Fetticini, Salad, bread
Snack: Cheese puffs
Dinner: McDonalds (DOH!)
Snack: None

Day 49

Back on plan today, and giving the legs a day of rest from running. Drank all my water today and at all my food.

Over the last year or so my eyesight has become worse and I now require reading glasses and I also use them for computer work. I did a lot of reading yesterday, but forgot my glasses at home. I ended up with a headache that didnt go away all night. I manage to throw some pitches to my son, but decided that running was out.

I tried the NS hamburger, it was a little scary comming out of the box, but once it was reconstituted it was pretty good.

Breakfast: Cinimmon bun, greek yogurt, banana
Snack: HB Egg, Apple
Lunch: Sausage beans and rice, Salad, bread
Snack: BBQ Soy chips
Dinner: NS beef patty, bun, salad, asperigus
Snack: NS oatmeal cookie

Day 48

Weigh in Day

As of this morning I am 215.6lb

Which mean I have lost 30.8 lbs and have only 5.6 to go until I reach goal. If things keep going like they have that is at most 2 weeks.

Im planning on really increasing my running as I want to do a marathon in the fall.
This means Ill have to try to get my calories boosted, but not to the point where I gain too much weight.

I want to make sure the calories are comming from nice healthy foods, and not junk.

I bought myself some recovery drink for after my runs, its a mix of carbs and protiens in a 4:1 ratio. This ratio has been proven to be the best for muscle recovery. Im hoping it will help me recover faster so I can get more running days in each week.

Breakfast: PB granola bar, greek yogurt, banana
Snack: Cheese stick, Apple
Lunch: Almond butter half sandwich, cottage cheese, banana
Snack: Post workout recovery drink
Dinner: Tacos, salad, mixed veggies
Snack: PB cookie

Day 47

We had a bunch of soccer and baseball stuff going on today, and it was freezing out, not fun! I tried to eat correctly today, but we werent always at home. Thank god for stuff like cheese sticks. It was so cold twice today I ended up with a large coffee with cream from mcdonalds. Maybe all that caffiene will help me burn off a few calories :)

Good news and bad news. Good news is Ive lost a bunch of weight, bad news is that Im swiming in all my work clothes. I need to do some shopping.

Breakfast: NS Oatmeal, greek yogurt, banana
Snack: Cheese stick, Apple
Lunch: Almond butter half sandwich, cottage cheese, banana
Snack: Cheese stick
Dinner: Rueben sandwich and few fries
Snack: air popped popcorn

Day 46

This week has gone pretty well, and I expect that on sunday when I weigh in Ill be somewhere around 115-116lb range. About 5 pounds from goal. Im looking forward to cooking and eating on my own. I have alot of ideas for foods and recipies. I have been running quite a bit and trying to do as many pushups as I can, and I can really start to notice it in my upper body. I cheated at dinner, but made decent choices so it wasnt so bad.

Breakfast: PB Granola bar, greek yogurt, banana
Snack: Cottage Cheese, Apple
Lunch: Bean and Ham soup, Salad, Bread
Snack: Nacho Chips
Dinner: Subway Flatbread roasted chicken veggies and mustard
Snack: None

Day 45

I had a bad day food wise. I was on plan all day except lunch. There was a pizza party planned to celebrate a few peoples big promotions. I had planned on having a small amount and a salad and call it good. For some reason I was extra hungry in the morning, and when the pizza showed up a chowed down. The pizza was cut in squares, about 3 or 4 inches on each side, and I at 5 plus a salad. I fell full afterwards, but really angry that I couldnt control myself. It was also my day off of running so that made me feel worse about it.

Well only one thing to do, get back on plan. Which is what I am doing today, and I will run again for the next three days. I needed the day off, and probably the carbs in the pizza, so maybe it wasnt such a bad thing.


Breakfast: NS PB granola bar, Strawberry greek yogurt, banana
Snack: HB Eggs, Apple
Lunch: Pizza, Salad
Snack: BBQ Soy Chips
Dinner: Chicken pattie with bun, Salad
Snack: PB Cookie

Day 44

I was on plan today, until dinner. On wednesdays we usually go over to the inlaws for dinner. My mother in law had made goulash, which is one of my favorites, so I had a couple of serving of that. I have been running alot and my legs feel a little tired, so I think I needed the carbs anyways.

This week I upped the running from 2 miles at a time to 3 miles at a time. I ran the last 4 days in a row, but I am going to take tommorow off to let my legs heal up.

I burn about 450 calories when I run the 3 miles, so I have been adding a protien shake the last few days after my run, to help make up some of those calories.

Breakfast: NS Oatmeal, Peach greek yogurt, banana
Snack: Cottage Cheese, Apple, Protien shake
Lunch: Split pea soup, Salad, Bread
Snack: Cheese Puffs, grapes
Dinner: Goulash, Salad, Mixed Fruit, Green beans
Snack: None

Day 43

Was on plan today except for water. I have done really poorly on the water for the last week, and my weight hasnt changed, Im sure that isnt a coincidence. Im back to work starting tommorrow so hopefully that will help me get back on track. Working at home I have been able to run for the last 4 days.

Breakfast: NS Flakes and berries, Strawberry greek yogurt, banana
Snack: Cottage Cheese, Apple
Lunch: bean and ham, Salad, Bread
Snack: Nacho Chips, grapes
Dinner: Meatloaf and mashes potatoes, Salad, bread and almond butter, apple
Snack: PB Cookie

Day 42

For the next couple of days I am working from home which is great, but I find it hard to be so close to the food all the time. Im really tempted to cheat throughout the day. Ive tried to stay away from the snacks, but since Im running almost every day now I allow myself a few grapes or some veggies every now and then.

Breakfast: NS Cereal, banana, greek yogurt
Snack: apple, cottage cheese
Lunch: NS Bean and rice, salad, bread, almond butter
Snack: Nacho Chips
Dinner: Pizza, Salad, Bread and butter, broccoli, apple sauce
Snack: Choc caramel nougat bar

Day 41

Im running a little behind on my posts, so I am going to try to catch back up today.

Today was weigh in day.

Total weight loss so far is 28.4. I am 118, so only 2 lbs this week, but I have been tinkering a little with how I will do maintainence, plus later in the week and this weekend my water intake was pretty low.

We had a soccer game today for my daughter and everyone was hungry afterward so we went off to applebees. I had another one of the under 550 calories meals, once again it was good. I used that as my dinner and then had a NS lunch at dinner.

Breakfast: Oatmeal, Yogurt, Banana
Snack: Apple, Cottage Cheese
Lunch: Applebees
Snack: Nacho Chips.
Dinner: NS Tortalinni, Salad, bread.
Snack: Choc chip cookie

Day 40

I was off plan a bit today, we had a wedding to go to so my dinner was much larger than normal, and I had quite a few drinks, but we had fun and my weight still seem to be dropping, so so be it.


Breakfast: NS Pancakes, Strawberry greek yogurt, banana
Snack: Cottage Cheese, Apple
Lunch: pasta and beef, Salad, Bread
Snack: Buffalo pretzels
Dinner: Wedding food
Snack: None

Day 39

I was on plan 100% today. Weekdays are alot easier to follow the plan since most of the eating is done at work. The weather here has been really weird, 80 degrees on day then 2 days later 30's and snow flakes. It has made my lunchtime walks a little more spotty.

Breakfast: NS Flakes and berries, Strawberry greek yogurt, banana
Snack: Cottage Cheese, Apple
Lunch: Tuna salad, Salad, Bread
Snack: Nacho Chips
Dinner: Meatloaf and mashes potatoes, Salad, bread and almond butter, apple
Snack: PB Cookie

Day 38

I was on plan 100% today, but the kids sports practices are starting to make it really hard. My days go something like this.

6am Wake up, shower
6:25 get kids up make breakfast
6:50 make and pack lunch for the day
7-7:15 fight kids to finish getting ready
7:15 drive kids to school and me to work
8-5 Work Work Work
drive home
5:30 make my quick meal & something quick for kids,
6:00 off to practice or game
8:00 get home, shower for kids
9:00 bed time for kids, and either relax in front of the tv or run for me.

Its pretty much like this from now until shortly before school lets out.

My Dinner is lately just the NS Entree before practice and bread and a huge salad later on.

Breakfast: NS Flakes and berries, Vinilla greek yogurt, banana
Snack: Cottage Cheese, Apple
Lunch: Pasta and beef, Salad, Bread
Snack: NS Zesty Snack Mix
Dinner: spinach and cheese ravioli, Salad, bread and almond butter, apple
Snack: Choc chip cookie

Day 37

I was on plan today right up until dinner. I had to take my daughter to a soccer game, which got over fairly late, and I had to stop at the grocery store to get more supplies. This along with the fact the in-laws said they would take us out led me to eating at fazoli's. I ended up with the Chicken and brocoli penne. It was one of the healthier items on the menu, or so I thought. When I got home I check the stats on that and the half a breadstick I had. 1000 Calories and I wasnt really all that full, WOW!

I guess it was a good thing I ran last night and burned about 300 calories for my 2 miles. Im going to try to sneak in another run tonight.

Breakfast: Peanut butter granola bar, Yogurt, Banana
Snack: Apple, Cottage Cheese
Lunch: tuna salad, Salad, bread
Snack: BBQ Soy chips.
Dinner: Fazoli's
Snack: None

Day 36 - I just noticed this didnt post when I wrote it

I really like having a new shipment of food, it was getting hard to make my choices at lunches and dinner. The first month was hard, because you really dont know what you will like and not like. This month I changed my order so I only get what I liked, although when it came, there was still a few I didnt like, not sure if it was me or them that screwed up. I am now within less than 10 lbs of my goal, which I should hit in about 2.5 weeks if all goes like it has. Im not sure if Ill keep ordering the food, but just add things in or order one month and make it last for 3 by subbing a meal here and there, I guess Ill just decide that later.

I bought a bunch of new clothes around christmas time, to fit my expanding waistline. Im really regreting that now as Im swimming in most of them.

Breakfast: Peanut butter granola bar, Yogurt, Banana
Snack: Apple, Cottage Cheese
Lunch: tuna salad, Salad, bread
Snack: BBQ Soy chips.
Dinner: Fazoli's
Snack: None

Day 35

I was on plan 100% today and got more water than I needed.

I got my second run in, and it felt really good. I ran on friday for the first time, and my legs were really sore for a few days, so I waited until they were feeling a little better to run again. Im starting with 2 miles each time, and will slowly start raising that amount, as I feel it is needed. Im looking to run a marathon or half marathon in the fall and then again in the spring of 2011. I dont know if I mention it before, but I have a run a couple of marathons before, so this isnt just crazy talk, and I do know what training is involved to get ready for something like this. It all depends on how injury free I can stay.

My new shipment of food came today, it was nice to go through the food and know that I liked everything in the box. I did add a few new things, but not many. I did pretty well not having any NS food for the last week. I still managed to lose a little weight.

Breakfast: Kashi Cereal, banana, greek yogurt
Snack: apple, cottage cheese
Lunch: NS Fettecini, salad, bread, almond butter
Snack: hard boiled egg
Dinner: Chicken Breast, salad, green beans, 1 red potato
Snack: Choc chip cookie

Day 34

Weigh in day!

Weight loss so far 26.4lbs

I am at 220 on the nose. My goal was 210, so 10 lbs to go. When I reach goal my eating will remain health, but probably change somewhat. I plan on trying to add some muscle, so I will proabably up the protien level and maybe add a protien shake somewhere in there. I also started running again this week so Ill need a little more calories as I up my miles.

I checked on my next food order and it should be here today, which is good. Im looking forward to having all foods I know that I will like.

Breakfast: Kashi Go Lean, yogurt, banana
Snack: Cottage cheese
Lunch: Tuna sandwich, salad
Snack: yogurt
Dinner: NS Chicken Sandwich, roasted Asperigus, Salad, Strawberries
Snack: NS Poundcake and strawberries.

Day 33

Food didnt go great today, which isnt surprising, the weekends never go well, since there is too much going on. I had to help do cleanup at my sons baseball field. I was there over three hours doing some pretty tough labor, they had hotdogs and chips for us, which I ate. I had worked pretty hard so I dont feel too bad.

Breakfast: Kashi go lean almondflax crunch, banana, yogurt
Snack: None
Lunch: 2 hot dogs, chips
Snack: None
Dinner: Trout, broccoli
Snack: chocolate caramel bar

Day 32

I was 100% on food today, but only got about half my water, I need to pick up some more crystal light this weekend it really helps on days when the water isnt going down very easy.

Breakfast: Kashi go lean almondflax crunch, banana, yogurt
Snack: Cheese Stick, Apple
Lunch: Tuna sandwich, salad
Snack: SF Jello, 10 almonds
Dinner: Chicken Alfredo, Salad, roasted brocolli, unsweetened applesauce
Snack: White chocolate cookie

Day 31

Well today was my first day back on the program after vacation. I thought I would be really hungry today, because I ate alot more while on vacation, but surprisingly I wasnt that hungry. I had delayed my next shipment while we were on vacation so that it would get here about the time we were getting home. I check on it last night and it wont be here until the 13th, so im going to have to wing it for a few days. I do have a few dinner left over, but they are one I dont care for, but for lunch Im on my own. I think I have learned enough that I can make some good choices.
I still think I am holding some water weight from vacation, but a few more days of pounding down the water should help with that. Ill weight myself again on sunday like I was before. Im hoping just to be where I was at before the vacation.

In other news Im going to start running again this weekend, Im really looking forward to it, since I really havent done much running since I hurt my ankle last june.

Breakfast: Kashi go lean almondflax crunch, banana, yogurt
Snack: Cheese Stick, Apple
Lunch: NS Chicken noodles and vegetables, Salad with fixins, bread
Snack: Chocolate Nougat and carmel bar
Dinner: Chicken Alfredo, Salad, roasted asperigus, unsweetened applesauce,Bread and spread
Snack: Carrot cake

Back from Vacation

Well Im back from my vacation to disney world. The weather was beautiful, 80's and sunny every day, and not a drop of rain. I ate too much and drank too much, and got a wee bit sunburned. I did try and make good food choices when I could, and disney has really upped their healty food choices, so it was pretty easy. In the end I only ended up gaining a pound as of this morning. I didnt drink much water, so it may be even less than the pound once I drink all my water today. I usually update these the day after so Ill be back tommorow to update what I did today.

Getting close to goal weight....

Im about 2/3 of the way to my goal weight, another 10-15 lbs to go.

But then what?

Am I ready to cook and eat on my own. I have learned alot over the last month, but will it be enough? Its a pretty scary prospect, the not having to worry about portion sizes or calorie has made this weight loss pretty easy.

To complicate things I plan on starting running again when I hit goal weight, so Ill need some extra calories for that, a lot of factors to consider.

I think I have a pretty good handle on breakfast and lunch meals and the morning snack wont change alot, but keeping dinner at the correct portion sizes and not over eating might be hard. And what to do about the protien and fiber heavy snack before and after dinner. I guess I need to spend some time on the nutrisystem boards in the mantaining threads.

I guess if I really cant figure it out, NutriSystem will be there for me.

Why NutriSystem Works

If your like me and have had some success on NutriSystem and are asked why it works, here is a cheat sheet of reasons you can use.

1. Weight loss is "calories in" vs "calories out" simple as that. NutriSystem makes sure that the calories in is lower, you will lose weight. Now everyone is has a different metabolism, so some will lose more than others, but if you stick to it you will lose.

2. Its simple. No calorie, fat, carb counting. Have your NS entree and a few add ins and your good to go, no real cooking required.

3. No hunger. The way the NutriSystem is designed, you are eating every couple of hours, you dont have time to get hungry.

4. The food is really good, so you will eat it. Sure there are a few lunch or dinners you wont like, everybodys taste is different There is such a selection to choose from, its really easy to find something you will like.

5. Cost. Its not cheap, but if you really calculate out what you were spending on eating out a groceries, you might see that you will come out ahead. And the initiall money you spend will keep you motivated to stick out at least the first month until the food is gone. The weight you lost in that first month will bring you back.

6. It re-trains your brain. Americans views on what a correct portion of food is has gotten totally out of whack over the years. Nutrisystems meals are perfectly portioned, so by eating and seeing these portion for a month you really start to learn how much food you should be eating.

Suppliments

If you are doing the NutriSystem program correctly then you are probably eating pretty healthy, so some people might wonder if suppliment pill are really needed.

My thought on this is that they cant really hurt, at least the suppliment I am talking about below.

What I take:

Daily Multi-Vitamin - Yeah, your getting a lot of vitamins from the fruits and veggies your eating, but are you getting the full spectrum. Unless your sure, then taking a multi vitamin is a good idea, they are not that expensive and better safe than sorry.

FlaxSeed Oil - The nutriSystem diet isnt very high is heart health omega-3, usually found in fish and nuts, so I take a few of these each day. I chose the flaxseed over the fish oil caps, for one simple reason, no nasty fish burps, simple as that.

Niacin- I have low cholesterol, which is a good thing, but I also have low levels of good cholesterol, which is not good. Taking the flaxseed oil, niacin and excersize has been shown to raise the good cholesterol levels.

Stuff you shouldnt take (and I dont):

Stimulants - These come in many forms including energy drinks, pills, etc. These are dangerous to take as they make your heart work harder even at rest.

Fat Blockers - To me these just seem wrong, I dont know the science behind them, and if the are dangerous, but the list of side affects should be enough to scare people off.

Stuff I may add:

Protien Powders - Once I reach my weight goal and start cooking my own foods again I might mix some of these in for clean calories as I up my fitness.


Before adding anything or starting any exersize program consulting your doctor is a good idea.