I finally got the scale to MOVE!

Yes, people, that's right...I got the scale to move to the LEFT rather than the right. :) I weighed myself and am proud to say I am 5 lbs lighter today that last week when I started my new eating plan. YAHOO! Now, I know that all nutritionists and dieticians and fitness gurus say that the best, safest way to lose weight is to lose 1-2 lbs a week. I have an explanation for why I lost more than the recommended amount in my first week...you know how on The Biggest Loser, they all lose so much in the first couple weeks because they HAVE so much to lose? Yeah, I think that's what happened in my situation. Its not like I only have 10 lbs to lose...I have 50 lbs to lose, hence the "bigger" number of pounds lost last week. Of course, I am not a certified nutritionist or dietician, nor am I what you might consider a fitness guru, so take what I say for a grain of salt. :)

I CAN say, though, that my keys to success so far (HA! its only been a week!) have been:

• paying attention to labels, serving size and calories per serving
• allowing myself "treats" now and then (you all recall my Mexican meal earlier this week!)
• blogging, and
• food tracking in a journal (pictured below).
  

I write out what I'm going to eat either the night before or in the morning, include calories, and check off the food I've eaten as I eat them. I shoot for 1200 calories a day, no more than 1400. And with my BMI, I believe this is adequate. I also try to workout 4-5x a week, and I try to burn 500 calories per workout. I'm a on 3 on-1 off schedule for working out, and with that schedule I'm working out 5x a week.

The weight lost this past week has motivated and energized me...its quite empowering. :)

Anyway, on to my meals...this morning I made a green monster for Babydaddy and I to share...

I also had some coffee and maple brown sugar oatmeal...
My post-workout snack was none other than my cottage cheese and strawberries! :) Today I did the treadmill for 32 minutes and the elliptical for 10 and burned 450 calories. :)

Lunch was 1 serving of chicken noodle and vegetable soup (approx. 160 calories)...

And a big bowl of greens with 1/4 c of tuna and 2 tbsp. fat free ranch dressing.

My PM snack was some yogurt and strawberries.

My dinner was a single serving of beef stew (apprx. 160 calories) and a salad with fat-free Italian dressing, but I don't have a picture of it...I also had some of these yummy strawberries and kiwi, as well as 6 almonds.

The kids are in bed so I'm about to curl up with Harry Potter (I'm still on book 3 because Babydaddy has been home and I haven't had a moment to sit and read!) and my new favorite dessert: those yummy sugarfree fudgesicles. :) Good night folks!