2012 Down and UP

Well 2012 did not end where I had hoped it would but I have learned alot and that is the important thing.

I am down 2 pounds for the whole year.   For total loss of 90 lbs. the bad part is that is about 20 over where I was in May.  I simply quit logging and following what was working so well for me.  I  actually   was pretty stable through the summer up about  5 lbs  then  this  fall I  added  about 4 lbs. a month.   I  know I needed a break. 
Now I need to get back on the plan.  I am not  happy with where I am and I do not like how I feel.  I know that logging my food is  critical and I have to move more each and every day.

I have logged  438 miles on the treadmill and hit 3.5 million steps with my fitbit since Aug 1,2011.  That is a great thing but the 277 miles

Jan 1, 2012
Lost 88 lbs
Walked 160 miles on the treadmill
Logged 952,255 steps and 430 mile with fitbit

Jan 1, 2013  Totals from Aug 1, 2011
Lost 90.4 lbs
Walked 437 miles on the treadmill
Logged 3.5 million steps on the fitbit.

Learned that
 I can must logg food and  keep calories in check
Found new friends to share this journey with
Need to  keep my eye on the  end and celebrate the little successes.
90% food 10% excersise.  


In the next year I will:
Hit 100 lbs lost---Again
Hit 150 lbs lost
Walk/Run 600 miles
Log 3 million steps with fitbit
Nurture new friendships
Take time to celebrate succes

Ready for HBBC 2012

I am  excited for the start of  The Holiday Bootie Buster Challenge.  Next Monday Game on.

I  had a rough summer and fall . My mind and heart have not been in the weight loss and  exercise mode.  It is so hard to keep trucking along. I gave myself a few weeks off no tracking, no competing, no off limits foods, and no treadmill.  

It was a relief just to live and really that is what this whole  journey is about.  

Yes I did still consciously eat and even over ate some.  Yes I took a few walks and did some exercise.  I  did  wear my FITBIT everyday but 1 and I did weigh in weekly to see where I was at.   I am up a few pounds.  I  am not happy about it but I am happy that I  gave my mind the time it needed.  

There have been some work, family, and life things that needed more attention.  I am glad that I  navigated through that without a big crash and I know that I am better for all that this last 17 months have taught my.

I am glad that I stepped back and evaluated what  I want the next few months to look like.   I want to  really focus on  taking off another chunk of weight.  I am thinking another 50 by  May 1.

I know that no challenge or  boot camp will be the total answer but the community feel and  account ablity are something that I do like.    I am back and ready to get some miles and minutes  in over the holidays.

I am in round 3 of the Best Body Boot Camp and struggling.  I was not able to excersise for several day so I am behind and out of sync with the crowd but not giving up. I knew that in was going to be tough and I am getting my goals in and a couple of  light workouts in but now I am good to  go weeks 4-8 are mine.   I do love that this is such a well run  and supported  program so I am looking forward to round 4 already.

Confessions of a City Eater Foodie Pen Pal #4

I am  a little late with Foodie Pen Pal reveal day.  This is my 4th month participating.  I was matched with  Stephanie.  Her blog is  Confessions of a City Eater. 



I was very excited to be matched with Stephane I looked at some of the boxes she had sent in previous months and got to thinking I was  going to get some great new  foods to try.  Stephanie's note included a menu of ideas of each thing. Cuban flavors are not something that I have tried much.  So I was excited to spice up my chicken dishes this month with these seasonings. 

 

I remembered one of the chefs on Food Network Star a couple years ago using Sofrito in everything.  This little pouch was used on all kinds of things this month.  The Mojo marinade was great on  chicken breast that I grilled and had in salads.   Stephanie also included PicNik potatoes and  Crackermeal.  The  crackermeal I used with a little salt and pepper to bread a cubed steak.  It was really crispy and tasty.  

 

So from the right the innocent white bottle was filled with the YUMMIEST Granola.  I am not  kidding this stuff was so good.  The recipe is great it is just a few ingredients .  Stephanie has it exactly right "If you like those Nature Valley's Honey n' Oat granola bars then you will definitely like this simple granola recipe because the taste is spot on. "  I am not a big fan of  globs of stuff or  dried fruits and nuts in granola just give me the  great  flavors of oats and a little sweetness.  This bottle was meter out over yogurt for  a few breakfasts. I am made my own  batch and took it with me on a recent trip for  breakfasts  the recipe is perfection.  

The bag of plantain chips were a great,  yep all 3 servings were gone quickly.

 

The  Conchita Maria Cookie and Luker chocolate were a hit with the family.

 

I was sure that the hit item for me was going to be the six little tubs of Dulce de Leche.......They even came with a cute little shovel (I mean spoon)  that let you get every little bit out of the cup. 

 

 

About a week after I got my box Stephanie replied to my email thanking her for the goodies with the  simple question.

"IS ALL THE DULCE DE LECHE GONE??" 

 I had to reply YES I had just put down the shovel on the last little tub.  She said the  she had hidden it from her daughter so it would make it in the box and believe me, they were hidden in this house to make them last a whole week. 

 

I am so glad that I am getting to meet different people from across the country and taste the things that are in there kitchens.

 

It is so fun to see how different all the boxes are.  So if you want to join the fun just hop over to LeanGreenBean  and read through the rules and sign up.

Friend Making' Monday: Groceries

I found this link up an thought it was an interesting way to share things.

 If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section here at: www.alltheweigh.com so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Please invite your blog readers to add their links here too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts.

Now it’s time for this week’s topic! In the Kitchen  
 1. How often do you cook at home? I really cook about 95% of my meals it is so much easier to control portions. I know that eating out has been one of my reasons for not doing as well as I had been on loosing weight.
 2. Do you eat more fresh produce, frozen or canned produce? FRESH or frozen I go for both I can not do canned other than mushrooms for pizza and spaghetti. 
3. What are a few unusual staples that can always be found in your kitchen?  Green olives, and cinnamon I never run out of these I usually have more than one bottle of each. 
4. Look in your fridge, then tell us about the healthiest thing in there. Tons of veggies--- I love veggies I have relish trays loaded with them cut and ready it eat. Omelet, salad, steamed veg that is my basic daily eats. 
5. Now share the most unhealthy thing in it.  Miracle whip I am trying to do tuna sandwhiches with yogurt but not there yet. 
6. Do you eat leftovers? Yes all the time usually a freeze stuff too. 
7. Do you use coupons at the supermarket?  I never use them. 
8. How often do you try new recipes? I try new recipes every couple of weeks. 
 9. Do you make grocery lists?  Do you stick to them? I do lists but lately I have been getting the same thing every week. I need to get better at menu planning and adding in variety. 
 10. If you could buy one food item that would magically be calorie-free, which item would you choose? Ice cream

July Foodie Pen Pals

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I am  excited that it is Foodie Pen Pal reveal day.  This is my third month  participating.  I was matched with  Renee.  Her blog is  Bendiful. 

It was a pretty warm day in the valley and when I opened the mailbox I could smell my foodie pen pal box...... Yummy Carmel Corn smell.   I had been craving popcorn so that was the first thing that I tried.

So now to the important stuff what else was in the box.

The  Blue Corn  Chips and Chile Verde Salsa hit the salty savory spot.  The  Green Salsa had a nice tanginess to go with the heat.  The Mojo bar and peanut butter cookies went to work to be afternoon "will this day never end treats."    Renee said she had planned to send homemade cookies but these lasted allot longer than a homemade treat would have. The  Dr. Stuarts Tea's wee a  great combo pak to  try out.  The  Water bottle is  really nice it has an ice pack core so it keeps cool with out diluting  and the bottom is a cup that holds a few ounces of snacks/or drink mix.   Finally a big bag of  Cocoa Goodness. I thought it was great to share a  breakfast with Renee I had  the Love Grown Granola with  Greek yogurt one morning then later in the day  read that she had the same thing for breakfast.  We are both also and is also participating in BestBodyBootCamp.  So the base of our workouts where similar that day too.   

 I sent my box off to  food blogger  Sara her blog My Imperfect Kitchen with lots of  recipes and mom of college age kids stories. Sara lives in LA  and has a pasion for cooking classes,  she blogs about some of the chef's she has met in the last year.  


So now I am sure you want to know how you can join in the fun.  Foodie Pen Pals is the creation and work of  RD2B  Lindsay.  It is easy and the rules are simple.  Sign up by the 5th. Contact your pen pals within 48 hours of getting your match.  Send you box out by the 15th.  Thank your sender when you receive the box.  Reveal your  loot on the last day of the month and link up to Lindsay's blog.

400 miles

Tonight I  completed my 400th mile on the treadmill. 

It is incredible to me that when I set out on this path that I could go for more than 20 min at 2.2 miles an hour with stopping to catch my breath every 5 min.  I bought the starter treadmill that had the  450 lb capacity that I needed and would go 4 miles an hour.   Yep I was sure that would be good for a year little did I know what this last year has held for me. 


I upgraded treadmills, bought 7 sizes of pants, have walked on treadmills in 5 states.  Take hikes in 3 states,  logged 2,523,890 steps with my fitbit and over 1,170 miles.  I am tracking my  walk across the nation.  I am following the quickest car  route from  the Golden Gate Bridge to the Wahsington monument.   I am a couple weeks from the Nebraska border.  You can see my  path so far on my walking across the USA page.

I am on week 2 of the couch to 5 K training program.  It is a new challenge but I am up for it.  I have never been a runner a few laps in high school.  So the thought of me running a 5 K is  pretty out of my normal box.  But that box was not working so it was time for a change.

I am so glad I am getting stronger and  fitter as the days go by.  I am still not hitting my calorie counts but it is a work in progress.  I have been moving alot more and just need to make some adjustments.  I am in size 18W pants comfortably now and my  waist is getting smaller. 

Boot Camp Round #2

I am excited to get started on the next 8 weeks of best body boot camp from Tina Reale. Today is all about shoulders. I am not sure how I will do, but the great thing about this boot camp is that there are a range of exercises to do depending on your fitness level and equipment. Last time I did lots of modified moves this time I am hoping to be able to split the moves. In the last round I set my 2 personal goals as 7 fruits or veggies a day, and logging all my food. These have become such a part of my life now that it does not seem to be a challenge. So for the first 2 weeks of this round I am going with flossing daily and a plank a day I was doing plank a day in June but then I just stopped this is a good way to get back to it. Flossing well I just do not like to do it but I really need to so may be 8 weeks will make is a habit.