It's a very slow process - two steps forward, one step back - but I'm inching in the right direction. - Rob Reiner

April 01, 2013

Melt It Off Monday!

Last week I officially kicked off a weight loss plan for myself and made it a challenge for the blog world as well.  While the "official" blog challenge doesn't start until today, I started really focusing on weight loss  just over a week ago.

I'm happy to announce that I lost 3.6 pounds last week, but that I'm down a total of 6 pounds!

Last week I really focused on eating cleaner.  I completely cut out soda.  I had gotten in a bad habit of drinking it lately, both regular and diet.  I also didn't eat any junk snacks.  I replaced my normal after lunch or dinner snack with things like Greek yogurt and fruit or celery and natural peanut butter.  If I really craved something sweet, or just needed a little something to tide me over between meals I would eat a Larabar or Kind Bar.  My favorite Larabar is Peanut and Chocolate Chip, so yes it does have a small amount of sugar in it, but I am just not ready to try to go completely sugar free.

I also learned this week that I have been tricked!  I wasn't happy to realize that two of my favorite items I've been drinking - Zero Calorie "Ice Water" and 100 Calorie Archer Farms Coffee Beverages are both "naturally" sweetened with SPLENDA!!!!  So when they said naturally sweetened I thought that meant....naturally!  What false advertising. So if you are an idiot like me and an ingredient label says it contains Sucralose - that's just another term for Splenda.  I should have known.  So I'll be cutting those out.  I am really trying to eliminate artificial sweeteners from my diet altogether.  They are just so bad for you.  I am really bad about the coffee drinks. I loved them...and I seriously thought they just had coffee and milk in them.....argh!

Dang you Archer Farms!!  I knew you were too good to be true.
I am also happy to report that I have had 10 people join me in my official weight loss challenge!  It's amazing to hear some of their stories.  Some have already had huge weight loss successes, while others just want to lose those last few pesky pounds.  It will be fun to see how we all do these next few weeks.  I think having a community of people - even if it's a few that are all trying to do the same thing is very motivating!

I had originally said that you must be signed up for the challenge by Sunday....but I'll give you one more day (cause I'm just awesome like that).  But you have to sign up today since it's the first day of the challenge.  If you are interested - read by post here with all the details. It's pretty simple and you could win a $25 gift card!

I also had a great week of working out!

Here are the numbers:

Swim:  2 Miles
Bike:  48.52 Miles
Run: 16.43 Miles
Cross Train - Total:  1 Hour - (Two 30 minute Jillian Michael Strength Training Videos)

Total Hours:  10:24

So, I consider my unofficial first week a huge success!

This week will be a bit more of a struggle because I'll be out of town for work. I just have to keep focused and say NO to soooo many things that will be there to tempt me!

Hope everyone had a terrific week!  Any new Goals anyone is working on?

Anyone else struggle with weight loss/maintaining weight while traveling?

7 comments:

  1. I never have much of an issue with weight.. and bam 5 pounds on in two months. My jeans hate me right now, so I am cleaning up my diet too, I don't know if it is the stress of my mother in law living with me, lack of sleep lately (related no doubt to stress of MOL living with me) or turning 35 last year, but I hate the extra weight. Great job on your weight loss so far and getting the bad for you drinks out of your diet.

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  2. Congrats on your weight loss!

    I just signed up for your challenge. Thanks for extending it a day. :)

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  3. That is awesome - congratulations! I have been trying to eat fairly clean over the past couple of months and it really was easier than I thought after I got past the first couple of days. Still can't shake the diet sodas though. I might need professional help :)

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  4. This is why I'm grateful there is no Starbucks near my home. I would scone myself to death. And caramel it as well.

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  5. It's awful what they put into food these days. I've become increasingly aware that a lot of stuff is basically chemicals masquerading as food. No wonder there are so many conditions that are directly related to how we eat.

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  6. I completed day one, I actually weighed less than I thought to start. I realized sugar was the first ingredient in my salad dressing UGH!!

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  7. Congrats on the pounds.

    Wow - sneaky sugar. So important to read labels. Great lesson.

    I'm a coffee addict and am glad I've learned to enjoy it with just a bit of milk and no sugar.

    The challenge is a great group of people - fun to cheer everyone on!

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