4 Golden Rules

There's this show on TLC called "I Will Make You Thin." I never actually watched it, but I took note of the website. It's www.tlc.com/thin. The guy who hosts it is Paul McKenna, I think he's a motivational speaker of some sort. Anyway, he has 4 Golden Rules of weight loss that I think are just BRILLIANT and wanted to post here. They're helping me a lot. The link to this info can be found HERE.

Here are the rules in brief:
1. When you are hungry, eat.
2. Eat what you want, not what you think you should.
3. Eat consciously and enjoy every mouthful. (This one has had an AMAZING effect on me)
4. When you are full, stop eating.

I know it's all so very simple, but I LOVE the simplicity of it. No gimmicks, just following your body's cues. This is something I'm trying really hard to retrain myself on, but his rules really do help. There's a lot more meat to the rules when you read them on his webpage.
Go give it a look. It's a big help. :)

The Sugar Thing

OK, Steve's having a hey day with this challenge, especially the sugar part. Sugar and I have an unhealthy relationship, thus the goal to cut it out completely - except for Sundays, of course.. we need a little time together here and there so I don't go nuts.
Anyway, anytime I pick anything up that has sugar as an ingredient, like bread for instance, he immediately asks me - usually with a smirk - if I can eat that. He then threatens to call Sandra. So, just for clarification sake if/when he does call you, Sandra, to "tell on me," no sugar means the obvious stuff: no candy, cakes, pies, brownies, cookies, ice cream, handfuls of sugar, etc. It's nearly impossible to not eat something with a sugar ingredient, but I'm trying to be mindful enough to not deliberately put sugar in my body. Got it? Hope we're all on the same page. :)
Conscious is clean and Steve has nothing to threat me with now. :)

Thanks!

Thanks for the welcome Julie. I only ask about counting inches because muscle weighs more than fat and I think I might fall into the same category as Sandra as far as scales. And I think my biggest hurdle is going to be my own mind. Hopefully by seeing a psychologist, I can get past this loooonnnggg trial of the ectopic pregnancy experience. I worked in a gym for 6 years and know a lot about losing weight and exercising, so post your questions and I'm sure someone can find the answer:) Also, my recipe blog has mainly healthy recipes. For Jason(hubby)'s birthday, I'm making a low sugar, low fat cake that is delicious.

By the way...Hi Kara! Do you remember me?

Welcome Myndie!

An old friend of mine from San Antonio saw our challenge on my blog and asked to join. So everyone welcome Myndie (Powell) Krause! Yea!
Myndie asked me if there was any way she could count inches instead of pounds. I was wondering what you guys thought about that. I wanted to make things like this a group decision since we're all in on it.

Victory!

I haven't been able to get any pounds to drop for, oh, forever. Well, I lost 5 pounds, baby! I stepped on the scale, expecting it to pass that marker that I HATE so much, and it didn't. I sat there for a minute, trying to focus on the numbers and was in absolute awe. FIVE POUNDS! Whoo Hoo!! I almost started jumping and screaming, but I was in my in-laws' bathroom and I don't think it would have gone over well.
I haven't had this kind of success in ages and I'm pretty positive that it was due to wiping all of my vices out of my lifestyle. Hope you guys are having the same successes!

points yesterday

Let me know if I added this right.....
I worked out for my 30 minutes and 20 minutes of toning plus an additional 50 minutes working out and 30 minutes stretching. I ate my 5 servings of f&v and I ate breakfast. I didn't drink soda, had at least 7 hours of sleep (although it was interrupted, but it is every night). I took my multivitamin, drank 73 ounces of water didn't eat after 7 and didn't have any sugar or fried foods. I only ate when I was hungry and didn't eat any sugar. I did read scriptures for 30 minutes. So, I earned 21 points yesterday. Correct me if I'm wrong, I don't want to be a cheater!

working out

Just out of curiousity, are we counting our "cardio" as our complete workout from warm up to cool down or just the cardio portion? I got an awesome workout in yesterday and it included about 30 minutes of stretching at the beginning and at the end. (About 15 minutes each) So, does that count toward my cardio or do I just not worry about points for that?

I'm so proud of myself for yesterdays workout! I was extremely exhausted because Joe was up until 4:30 in the morning working on the computer in our room so I got really poor sleep and then had to get up with the kids at 7:20 to get them to school. I went to workout and we ended up doing 2 full hours and we are training for a 5k and I have been sick for 2 weeks with a terrible chest something--I have been coughing and having shortness of breath--anyway, I ran for 5 full minutes without stopping!! (twice!) And then, last night my kids had swimming lessons at the fitness center so I decided to workout during the lesson, I ran/walked for 10 minutes and did the stair stepper for 10 minutes! My legs are sore! Woo-hoo!

Orange Frothy

I have to share my smoothie recipe too. I found this recipe when I was pregnant with Tanner. I really wanted a smoothie, but I had no milk and no ice cream. Now it is my favorite smoothie. You can substitute other kinds of juice, too. Orange is my favorite. I usually don't add any splenda, but you can if you like it sweeter.

1/2 cup orange juice
1/3 cup powdered milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
splenda, to taste
ice cubes

Mix everything except the ice cubes in the blender. Add the ice one cube at a time, letting each one get incorporated before adding the next. I usually use about 5 or 6 cubes. Yummmmm!

To Team or Not To Team

OK, Steve and I were talking about the challenge last night and he thinks it's not fair to split into teams, but it should be individual against individual - that way we won't have anyone holding our progress back. What do you guys think? Should we just keep it individuals talleying points, or split into teams if/when we get an even number?
I think I'm leaning towards Steve's thoughts on it..

Also, I was thinking that since Sandra missed the first day of this, Kara, you and I should average out our points to give to her to help her catch up. That way it's more fair. I had 8 points the first day, what were yours?
Thanks! :)

I went to the gym

I weighed in today! I went to the gym after work. (I'm proud of myself. I usually find an excuse of some kind.) I love the digital scales at the gym. I don't own a scale. I must go to the gym to find out if I've lost weight. While I'm there to find out my weight I might as well get some exercise.

I'm also excited because I've lost 4 pounds since the last time I weighed in, which was several weeks ago. I had a sinus infection, and the nurse weighed me when I went the doctor to get antibiotics. So, since January I've lost 12 pounds. I'm thrilled. I haven't really changed anything in my lifestyle, until this challenge. So, I'm hoping to see even more improvement since I'm actually trying.

:)

Julie's Favorite Banana Smoothie

Here's what you do:
Put 1 small banana, 1 cup milk, 3-4 ice cubes and a generous squeeze of honey in a blender and blend. In one pop you've got a serving of milk, a serving of fruit, and no sugar! :) I love the honey in it - it was something I craved when I was pregnant with Joseph and it's been a staple of mine ever since. :)

By the Way, if You Have Any Great Tips, Add Them Here

Once you join "The Challenge," I'll add you on as an administrator on this blog, that way you can post your points as they happen as well as post any helpful advice you may have or vent if you need to. :) I have a few things I want to post when I get a real minute to sit down. I would love for this blog to be a great resource for all of us (even if we are competing..). :)

Welcome Sandra!!

My friend Sandra has agreed to join in on our challenge - YEA! I (Julie) already claim her on my team whenever we get a 4th (until then, she'll be Team Sandra). Sandra is a true bum-kicker when it comes to working out and losing weight - she was my total inspiration the last time I lost a lot of weight. :)

It's going to be great to have you on, Sandra - you'll really motivate us to stay on our toes! :)

Let the Challenge Begin!

I set out to find some friends to join me for a fitness challenge - an idea that was not originally my own, but tweaked to my own needs/challenges/vices. The response was overwhelming - one whole person - probably the best friend that I have, Kara. So, for now, it's me and Kara, but the door is still open and we would love to have Team Julie and Team Kara trying to kick each others' bums! So, if you're interested in joining, let us know - there's plenty of room on board!

Here's the gist of the challenge that we're doing. Points are calculated accordingly below and whoever has the most points by June 19th (the last day of spring - this is the Spring Challenge, but I'm determined to keep this up until I'm where I should be) wins a gift card to Bath & Body Works (*note - the non-winners will be purchasing the gift card.

30 minutes of cardio = 1 point
20 minutes of toning = 1 point
5 minutes additional workout time = .5 point/5 minutes
5 servings of fruits and/or vegetables = 1 point
Eat Breakfast = 1 point
No Soda = 1 point
7 hours of sleep = 1 point
Take a multivitamin = 1 point
Drink 64 oz of water = 1 point
Stop eating at 7:30 p.m. = 1 point
No Sugar = 1 point
3 servings of dairy = 1 point
No fried food = 1 point
Eat only when hungry = 1 point
30 minutes of scripture study (to help us be spiritually fit) = 1 point
At the end of each week 2 points will be awarded for each pound lost

Sundays are off - no points, no worries. :)