ready to blog!!!!!

I got my new netbook! I am so excited... when life settles down a little bit I will be able to blog more. =) I also have noticed the more sugar free I am the more sensitive I am to sweeteners. I know I like stevia and truvia but I no longer like purevia. On rare occasion when I use agave I LOVE it.... so yummy. Honey is intensely sweet. From time to time I use ketchup or have marinara sauce (with sugar in it) and it is incredibly sweet. I wonder what sugar will taste like? I guess I have 10 more months before I find out! =)

a pound at a time

I lost one more pound this week! Yay! =) This week has been a struggle because of my Grandpa being in the hospital. Unpredictable schedules have made it difficult to work out as much and eat the best foods. BUT, I managed to work out nearly every day and still eat as healthy as possible. I am still SUGAR FREE!!! My hubby ordered me a new netbook so I should be able to blog more... my laptop is so old it takes forever to boot up! I can't wait to add more recipes and photos.

one more pound!

I weighed in on Tuesday and I have lost one more pound. I did not weigh in on Valentine's day but I think I would have been one pound a way from my Valentine's day goal. I did buy 2 new pairs of jeans super cheap at Kohl's (on clearance +20% 0ff!) yay. They were necessary-my jeans were falling off w/o unbuttoning them! One pair is 2 sizes smaller and one pair is 3 sizes smaller. The smallest pair is my goal jeans.

I am getting a new laptop or netbook! YAY! My computer is nearly dead and is old! I had it in grad school before I was married. I will be able to blog more and add more recipes when I get my new computer. =)

Also-I am thinking of giving up dairy for the month of March. I am horrible at counting calories and seem to have more success with eliminating food. I eat dairy all the time so I am thinking it will help. Total to date I have lost nearly 20lbs since 1/1/2010! To bump of my workouts I may start another bigger loser game and have them going simultaneously-one challenging and one less intense so I can work out 6 days a week.

I am doing my devotions daily and learning new stuff every day! I love digging in the Word! I need to work on extending my prayer time.

still sugar free

I am still eating sugar free. We had a family emergency this weekend and I haven't done as well on my goals from last week as I had hoped. My goals this week are going to be less intense because my time will be consumed with family.

Weekly goals:
1. Drink water
2. Work out 3-5 times this week
3. Concentrate on food portions./calorie count

Yogurt

One of the things I have been missing is yogurt. I was at a playdate when one of my friends mentioned she made yogurt using a crockpot. So, I researched it and decided to make my own-sugar free, of course. I used SKIM milk so it is even low fat!! Here is the recipe:

Yogurt

8 c pasturized (or raw) milk DO NOT USE ULTRA PASTURIZED-Organic valley is a good brand.
1 cup active culture plain yogurt
Crockpot
towel

1. Turn crock pot on low and add milk. Cover and cook on low for 2 1/2-3 hrs. (I cooked it for 3 hrs)
2. Unplug crock pot and wrap in large thick beach towel for insulation. Let set for 3-4 hrs. Milk is done cooking when it a THIN film remains on spoon when dipped in milk-rather than just sliding off. (I let it set for the 4hrs).
3. In small bowl whisk 1-2 cups of milk from crock pot and 8ounces of plain yogurt. Add mixture to crock pot.
4. Keeping crock pot unplugged re wrap in towel and let set 8hrs.

For thicker yogurt you can strain the yogurt using coffee filters and strainer. Run the remaining yogurt through blender to make creamier. This is more like Greek yogurt.

I did not strain mine and it was a little thinner than store bought but I loved the way it tasted. I added stevia fruit and nuts. SOOO GOOD! =)

defeating the plateau

I just completed my weekly weigh-in and I am happy to report that I have lost 3 more pounds. I am 2 lbs from my Valentine's Day goal. =) WHOOOO HOOOO. I am going to kick it into over-drive and lose 2 lbs by Saturday to reach my Valentine's day goal. Saturday, my husband and I are going out to celebrate Valentine's Day sooooooo I want to be able to get my new outfit then! Needless to say I am overjoyed.

I am going to add a goal to my weekly goals. I am going to substitue one meal and maybe a snack with a protein shake. I think this may help with the overall weight loss. The protein shake I use is all natural sugar free (absolutely no sweetner) and gluten free-I have to add stevia to make it bearable.

weekly goals and pics!

How I looked about a week ago.

How I looked when I started.
















GOALS for next week:

1. Drink water (64 oz)
2. Monitor calorie intake (I am horrible at counting calories so this is going to be my focus this week)
3. Work out 5-7 days (I worked out 6 days last week)
4. Minimum of 11,000 steps at least 5 days this week.
5. Eat more fruit and veggies and less carbs and dairy.
6. Locate and start reading Jillian Micheal's book on metabolism.
7. Finish my "homework" for my Bible Study on Wednesday.

This past week has been difficult for portion control. I have been so hungry and want to eat all the time. I need to eat more fruit, veggies, and protein and concentrate on portion control. I have remained sugar free and worked out.

Good new and not so good news

First the Good news:
1. I have lost 15 pounds in 33 days-that is almost a 1/2 pound every day!
2. I have not eaten fruit for an entire month! YAY (Well, with the exception of a sip of grape juice during communion at church.)
3. I have worked out MORE this past week than any week so far and the workouts are getting easier.
4. I am STILL sugar free. I am feeling better, have more energy, and feel more motivated.

Now for the not so good news:
1. I weighed in today and I did not loose weight or gain weight. I was the exact same. I did weigh in after supper and I have been weight in before supper-so that may have added a little. I have worked out harder this week but did not count calories as often as I should. I feel thinner and I know I am loosing inches. I have had to pull my belt in 2 complete notches in one month just to keep my jeans up! I can now wear my engagement ring (which I was unable to put on my oversized finger)and I can wear shoes that were too tight before. I know I am loosing weight EVERY where. So, I am going to work HARDER, count more (or less) calories, and go the extra mile (literally).