Monday, March 29, 2010

192.5(-22lbs.)




I am keeping this short because my busy life seems to be getting the better of me these days, but I am in a rut again. I got down to 190, but have had parties, eaten out and had too much wine, all causing me to fluctuate with the same 3 pounds. I will be down one day and up the next. I am getting it all out tomorrow for my friend Jennie's b-day. We are going to my FAVORITE restaurant, Thai Gourmet, so I will be eating my typical fattening Thai fare, but I am going to the gym EVERYDAY this week to make up for it.

I have been in back in the gym for a month now and most days it gets easier. I can really see a change in legs and upper abs. They are so much stronger and more firm. Arms, back and lower abs are lagging behind, but my trainer is switching it up and pushing me constantly. I am actually really enjoining the energy and "good feeling" i get from each progressive workout. I have added some pics from Julie and J Baughman's wedding on March 20th. I really FELT skinny, and although I am a bit disappointed by how I look in the pictures, I know I have come a longggg way.

My Avon Walk for Breast Cancer is next Saturday and Sunday, so keep me in your prayers and click HERE to donate to my fundraising efforts.

All my love-
Makenzi

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

193.5(-21lbs)




Well, I have a had a challenging 2 weeks. Most of it due to my own lack of self-control.

Work has been filled with winemakers and winery owners, which is great, except for all the after work Happy Hours and paid lunches! I proved one thing to myself in the last 2 weeks: I am not good at saying "NO" when food and wine are put in front of me. I actually had one day when I was PMSing, and in a bad mood, and I wanted a glass of wine to relax. Well, that glass ended up being a full bottle, and by the end of the week I had gained 4lbs. Basically, I have been in a fight with my own self control and self-confidence these last 2 weeks. I used my fun filled calendar as an excuse and even when I was the only one making the food choices, I still "cheated" at almost every meal. I will admit, I was looking in the mirror and thinking, "Hey Makenzi, you are looking pretty good. You have lost 20 pounds!" This is true, but I seemed to forget I still have 50 pounds to lose. This week I have made a point of saying it out loud. When someone compliments me on my weight loss, I say, "Thank you. I only have 50 more to go."

Well, my Mom has kept up with her weight loss and is getting very close to her goal, so that motivated me to let go of this selfish, "I can do what I want to" attitude.

I knew I did not have an after work events this week, so I am taking advantage of it. I got back in the gym last week, and my trainer is clearly learning how to work me. He "urged" me to go ahead and book some sessions for the future week. I would rather get my butt to the gym then have to call him and cancel an appointment. I trained last Wednesday and by Friday, I could not walk up the stairs because I was so sore, but I got back to the gym on Saturday and did a training walk for the Avon Walk on Sunday. I am back at it this week with 2 gym sessions and a training walk! He even got me to run and that is a miracle(and it truly was not so bad.)I am not cheating on my food, and one of the QWLC counselors told me that if I have a glass of wine(ONE GLASS, not one bottle)I need to cut out a fruit and a starch, which has been helpful.

I am going to be wearing one of my size 12 "goal dresses" this weekend for my friend Julie's wedding, so I will get some pics to post. Above are a few recent ones.

Thanks to everyone who is still reading and especially to those of you who keep reminding me that I need to blog. I think it is like weight-ins: when you know you are up in pounds, you avoid going to weigh in. When I have bad weeks, I don't write. That darned being honest with myself thing! This is one of my motivations to get into the gym. I will feel better and I can have my glass of wine, too(just no cake, yet)!

Love-Mak

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

194(-20.5lbs)


I am so sorry to have gone so long without writing anything. Work has been very time consuming the last few weeks!

I finally hit my 20 pound weight loss milestone last week! Quick weight loss had me do a seven day metabolism break, where you eat a higher amount of protein with a lot of salad greens and a half of a grapefruit every meal. I was NOT excited about the grapefruit at all, but I ended up putting it on my salad as a topping and it added a nice refreshing zing that made eating the same fruit at every meal a bit less monotonous. I was not sure that the metabolism break would actually do what the QWLC intended, which is to give your metabolism a jump-start of sorts, but it did seem to work. They tell you that you should not expect to lose any weight in the "break" week, but I lost about a pound, and even went off the plan twice. I admit that I had some lasagna the Saturday that I was supposed to be eating only salad and protein, but I only had three bites. It was good, but I was content with just a little. I also had some bites of the pasta dishes that my companions had ordered. I felt content after my meal and not guilty. It was a nice change from my usual experience at an Italian restaurant. I lost 3 pounds as soon as I got back into my regular diet the following Monday.

One of the more surprising things I have found is that I can actually feel it when I eat things that are high in fat. I had a work function at a great little French restaurant and we nibbled at a little of everything, but I think the Foie Gras must have thrown my digestive track into a tailspin. I awoke at about 2am with horrible cramping and nausea. No more Foie Gras for me......

I made a great stir fry last night with red and green peppers(I usually HATE green bell pepper, but truly believe my taste buds are changing) and seared some Ahi Tuna and placed it on top. Yes, presentation is key to making my feel like I am spoiling myself. I usually use at least 2 plates/bowels, so it seems that I have more food. I even go as far as to NOT use my green plates if the food I am eating is all green, like a salad or broccoli, asparagus, zucchini, etc. It sounds strange, but it works. Make your food more attractive to your eyes and I promise, it will taste better too.

My friend Jennie had a great idea to make tuna tartare with the sushi grade Ahi Tuna that I get from Costco. I am going to use lime juice and incorporate wasabi into the recipe somehow. It will be perfect for the hot weather we will be getting any day now.

I have attached a picture that somewhat shows my weight loss. I will try to take more this weekend. I am to the point that most of my clothes are too big, but my Mom has handed down some of her clothes she has grown out of, so I am making it through. All I can say is, I am glad that I work with mainly men, because they do not seem to notice when you wear the same outfits all the time. Oh, and they tell you that you are getting too skinny, even when you are planning on losing at least 30 more pounds!

I know this blog is a bit all over the place - but this is what comes out when I am not in a "writing mood". I do not know how professional writers do it all the time. It would take me YEARS to write a book and the frustration in trying to find words when your brain is not cooperating with you....well it sucks!

One final note, my MOM said that I have not talked about my AVON WALK FOR BREAST CANCER that is coming up in April. I know most of you know about it because I have sent out emails constantly, but I am going to ask you to donate any amount you can as often as you can. This is a great cause, but if I do not raise a minimum of $1,800, I will not be able to participate in the walk. I am just over $300 now, so thank you to those of you who donated. I know times are tight, but give ANYTHING you can by clicking HERE.

Thanks!!!! Hugs and kisses!