Eating Clean and Paleo

Wow.  Some people are just rude.  That's all I have to say about that.  This isn't someone who has commented here before of course.  I'm not even sure if she's ever visited my site.  But I made a comment on one of her posts to help lift her spirits, and was basically shot down for it.  Needless to say I've deleted her off my list of blogs I visit every day.    :)     No need to surround myself with negative energy.

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Now on to bigger and better things.  I mentioned a couple days ago that I plan on making some huge changes to my diet.  Yes, I've been tracking, and eating less than I was before.  But it hasn't been enough.  Because I'm still where I started in August (and have actually gained a couple pounds).  Looking back on my meals, the weeks I saw a loss on the scale were the weeks that I had eaten a little cleaner than normal.

I have Tosca Reno's Eat Clean Diet book.  I never really got in to that, because I just found the food really tasteless and boring (who wants to eat chicken breasts and broccoli at every meal?  Seriously, that's all I thought I could eat).  However, since then, I've found more blogs with tons of clean eating recipes that look absolutely delicious.  I have also kind of looked in to the "Paleo" lifestyle.  Now, I love my carbs.  But we all know that too much of something can be bad for you.  I think Paleo would be a good thing for me.  However, I'm not going to be as strict with it.

It's time for Operation: Eat Clean.  I'm basically going to combine eating clean with Paleo (which is pretty much the same thing, but I'm making a few tweaks).  Here are the rules of the plan.

Eat Clean

• Eat 5 meals per day.  I'm going to shoot for 1300 calories, which means each meal will be about 260 calories.
• Eat breakfast every day.
• Eat a combination of lean proteins and complex carbs at every meal.
• Eat 2-3 servings of healthy fat each day.
• Drink at least 1 liter of water every day (this is my starting goal - I drink absolutely no water right now)
• Proper portion sizes (time to bring out the measuring spoons/cups)
• No Alcohol (Yes, I did just say that)

Eat Paleo (lots of tweaks here - I'll be following these guidelines 3 days each week)

• No processed foods (including coffee, sweetener, pre-packaged food, etc)
• No grains
• No legumes
• No dairy
• No potatoes
• What can I eat these 3 days???  -meat, fish, eggs, lots of veggies, some fruit, and plenty of good fats.

So there you have it.  It's basically eating clean, with 3 days each week of Paleo.  Because let's face it, I can't go without my carbs.  

What 3 days will I be eating Paleo?  I'm going for Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.  Saturday may be the hardest, but I need to do this because I tend to binge on the weekends.  

Any treat days/meals?  I'll allow myself two treat MEALS each week (not treat days).  The treat meals will need to be on NON Paleo days.

I'm sure I'll come up with more questions/tweaks.  But this is the plan for now.

Now let's get rid of this weight once and for all!!!!!!!!!

***Edited to add (this post is getting really long):  I've made up a couple schedules too.  My eating schedule (because this girl mentioned having an eating schedule helped her), and a "water break" schedule (I'll take a few breaks throughout the day to go to the water cooler and drink a cup of water - also a good excuse to get up off my butt!!).

Eating Schedule
8:15 AM
10:45 AM
1:00 PM
4:15 PM
7:30/8:00 PM

Water Break Schedule
9:30 AM
12:15 PM
3:00 PM

Another Link-Up

I wasn't going to participate in this linkup, because I can't really think of any celebrity that I've met in person. But then I thought....wait!!  I have some pretty nifty stories, and I bet NO one could top them!  Ha.

So, story #1.  Does anyone remember the movie Jingle all the Way?  With good old Arnold Schwarz.....(I don't know how to spell his last name)?  Yep, I met someone who was in that movie.  My Grandma had recently passed away, so my Grandpa was selling the house so he could come closer to the cities near the rest of the family.  Little did I know, a MOVIE STAR would be moving in to my Grandpa's house.  The lady on Jingle all the Way.

Oh, wow Heather....Rita Wilson?!?!?!?!?

............

Uh, not so much.  Her name was Sandy Thomas, and I believe her character's name was "Mother in the Neighborhood."  Funny thing is, when I watched the movie, I never remember seeing her.  And when I told my friends at Girl Scouts, I lied and said that it was in fact Rita Wilson.  Hey, it's not really a lie when you weren't 100% sure, right?  And I didn't even know who Rita was at the time....I just called her "Arnold's wife."    :)        I think my mom still has the piece of paper with Sandy's autograph sitting in a box in the basement.  Could be worth lots of CASH some day!  Especially since she is so popular and I can't find an image of her on Google.

And on to sighting #2.  This was more recent....like 4 or 5 years ago.  Gosh has it been that long already??? I was at my best friend's Bachelorette party.  We were club hopping, because we are just such party animals.  We decided to head on over to Envy (a club here in Minneapolis).  We went upstairs to get some drinks, then saw a bunch of girls flocking around some person in the VIP area.  He was REALLY short, and I couldn't tell who he was.  But then one of my friends squealed out his name....

It was PRINCE!  :O     We were so dumbfounded, we just stood there, not doing anything.  Then his big buff bodyguards came and ushered him away and out the club.  Lame.  But yes, he lives here in Minnesota, so there are lots of Prince sightings.  That was my Prince cherry-popping moment.

What is YOUR celeb sighting story???

I've Got a New Attitude!

Tomorrow on the schedule: Cardio Barre in the AM.  I will get up in the morning.

I don't need to pack my lunch tomorrow.  We're celebrating HR birthdays, and we're getting bagels from Panera Bread (I plan it, that's how I know).  I will have half of a bagel.  No more.  Then for lunch, we have a working lunch meeting, and we're ordering from the local deli.  Normally I'd have a sandwich with chips and dessert.  Not tomorrow.  I'm having a salad with water.  Nothing more.

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Special thanks to Amanda and Elle for commenting on my last post with suggestions.  I always just thought of calories in < calories out = weight loss.  Not always.  I need to focus on eating cleaner.  And I'm not waiting until Monday to do this either.  No more of that (especially since my weigh-ins are in the middle of the week).

Stay tuned tomorrow for my plan to tighten up my eating.  It's time to do this 100%.  No more half-ass attempts.  Because that is not giving me results.

Stupid Weigh-In Wednesday

I am incredibly crabby and stressed out today, and I have no idea why.  I think it has something to do with that dreaded weigh-in day.  It completely put me in a sour mood - not a good way to start the day.  So what was I at last week?  Well I didn't really weigh myself in last week.  Looking through my past blog posts, I weighed in on Wednesday, November 7 at 150.  So what do I weigh today?

151.9

*Sigh*

I know I haven't been the best eater, but I most certainly have improved my eating and cut back.  That should certainly count for something.  At least a few tenths of a pound each week at least.  But I'm GAINING.  I started this blog in August.  My initial weigh in on September 5 was 149.8.  So tell me...if I'm keeping track of everything I eat and eating LESS than I did before I started, HOW is this possible??  Mind you, it's not a lot less, but that should at least mean I should maintain or lose tiny bits.  I don't understand.

PLUS, I'm exercising MORE than I did.  Before I didn't exercise at all.  Now I do it at least once or twice a week.  Which again isn't much, but it's still MORE than what I was doing.

How is this possible??????  I'm so tired.  All I want to do is throw in the towel.  No, I haven't been perfect.  But I have been BETTER.

Sorry for the rant.  I just need to get this out before I explode.  This is not a good day to be at work.  I'm just pissed off and angry, and I'm sure everyone sees it.  *Sigh*

Here's the Plan, Stan....

So yesterday I mentioned that my eyes were opened when I saw how many calories the FitBit told me I burned all day.  I checked this morning after syncing it, and total calories burned yesterday was around 1900.  So that means if I wanted a 1000 calorie deficit (which I put in my settings), I could only eat around 900 calories.  Um, not so much.  This means I need to move more.  Having a sedentary job is NOT good for the waist line.  We all know this, but when you see the numbers, it still really hits you hard.  I thought I at least would burn over 2000.  Didn't happen.

Not only am I going to have to amp up my workouts, I'm going to have to get up from time to time throughout the day.  Take a walk.  Enjoy the scenery.

Since it's cold outside (about 20 degrees right now), walking outside is not an option for me.  I mean, it is, but I am NOT going to walk in that shit!  Maybe I can walk around the building?  Walk up the stairs a couple times?  I need to come up with a plan.  Stay tuned for that.

In regards to amping up my workouts - I want to start working out in the morning and after work.  I know it's not the most ideal, but if I want to eat at least 1400 calories, I need to do it.  And if I don't do the 2-a-days, then I need to scale back on the eating.

It's all about balance!

I tried to work out this morning, but I'm not a morning person at all and I have no energy.  So I thought it'd be best to do ballet-style workouts in the morning.  Here is my morning workout schedule...

M- P57 Express
T- Cardio Barre (either beginner or intermediate)
W- Squeeze with Tracy Effinger (the 30 minute workout)
Th- Cardio Barre
F- P57 Express

After work, I want to do BodyStep classes on Mondays and Wednesdays.  Then I want to do the C25K Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.  And maybe Saturdays.  Sundays will be a day off.

I know it looks like a lot to take on.  But I'm not expecting perfection.  This is just my goal.  I'll see what works, and scale back/switch things up from there.  I'm hoping to lose at least 1 size by Christmas (because I've been touting on FB that I'm going to BodyStep classes, and my cousin - a marathoner - has been cheering me on....I certainly don't want to look like a slug when I see her at Christmas!!).

This Has Opened My Eyes

Quick post.  So I'm looking at my calories burned so far for the day.  I'm only at between 1600 and 1700.  Um....no wonder I haven't been able to lose weight.  Now, I'm not sure how accurate this thing is, but I've been logging all my activities manually so that I get a better estimate (it says that it will be more accurate if you do this for a few days).  So if I eat around 1400 calories, that's a very little deficit.  I'm going to have to start moving more, and maybe even doing 2 workouts a day!!

It's amazing how things like these can open your eyes.  It sucks having such a sedentary job, but I know I'm not the only one.  And there's no reason I can't move around more.  And it shows me just how important exercise is when you do have a sedentary job.

I highly recommend getting this product if you're trying to lose weight, or something similar!  It will really open your eyes!!

FitBit

Happy Monday all!  I'm not going to do a Thanksgiving recap, just because I'm bored of reading everyone's recaps.  All I will say is...mine was great.    :)

So last week I purchased this nifty little device....

In pink, of course.  Because I love everything pink.  I had actually purchased the BodyMedia Fit a few years ago.  I think it was a great device, but it was annoyingly big and bulky.  I only wore it once for a whole day because I got soooo many questions from people asking me what it is.  And I don't know about you, but I'd rather not put it out there to strangers that it's a device to help me lose weight.  

The FitBit?  It clips nicely on my bra, never to be seen by anyone.  I got the Zip, so it doesn't track my sleep like the regular one, but that's okay.  I don't need it to track my sleep.  I'm also excited that I don't have to pay a monthly premium to use the tools on the web site (with BodyMedia Fit, I do).  It's also wireless, so I don't need to plug it in to my computer to sync the information.  It also syncs with LoseIt!!  That is a GREAT benefit.  I decided to try the "hard" setting, and aim for a 1,000 calorie deficit each day.  Which means if I want to eat 1400-1500 calories a day, I'd better get moving!!!  

I wore it over Thanksgiving weekend, but didn't really track my food.  So this week will be my first official week with this plan.  

Oh, and Weight Watchers?  Didn't last very long, I know.  It's just too inconvenient for me.  I know a lot of people have had awesome success with Weight Watchers, but I'm just not one of them.  Wish I was.  But that's okay.  I'm real excited about this FitBit!!  I'll keep ya posted with how it works.