2010 ~ Weeks 16-27

Oh my! I thought I went on a month long hiatus with my weight loss efforts, but apparently it has been much longer than that. Qué paso? I don't know what to say other than I just put it aside to give time for other things in my life.

Today I went into the gym feeling more nervous than ever. My clothes have been fitting very tight on me giving me a pregnant look over these past few weeks. Ugh! TMI!!! About a month ago I went to the doctor's office for some lingering cold I had. As expected, I was weighed. The horror!!! The scale read 196lbs!!!! I turned to the nurse letting her know that I just gained a whopping 8lbs over the course of two months. Thinking to myself- this has to be extremely unusual. The nurse kindly let me know that it was normal- we (women) tend to gain water weight sometimes.

Feeling a bit encouraged today after reading a blog post from one of my favorite tweeple, I made a bee-line to the gym after dropping off my kiddos to band practice. First thing I did was hunt for the missing scale that is normally found in the woman's locker room after a quick pee. (Sorry for the tmi again.) I slipped my shoes off and held my breathe while thinking skinny thoughts as I stepped on the scale. I suppose it was water weight gain after all.

Waist:  38"

Weight: 188 lbs

Surprisingly, I am still maintaining my weight. I need to get back into my weight loss regime so I can actually start shedding those unneeded pounds and inches. I'll try not to keep you all in suspense for too long before my next update. ☺

Asta luego!!

Having a muffin for dinner?

Over the past few months I have struggled to develop a new habit- exercising once ever day of the week. The weekends are especially difficult as we do a lot of random activities on those days. Hunger strikes me at a common time as others- when I'm feeling nervous about something. Lately, I have not been nervous but anxious. The boys will be entering summer vacation. This means a big shift in our weekly schedule will take place. I have so much plate at this moment that I don't know how it will all take shape.

Sitting at my hub, I begin to feel the need for something soft and soothing in my mouth. Comfort foods like mashed potatoes with gravy and pan dulce overpower my thoughts. I have a half muffin looking at me at this moment. An internal struggle for the pillowy treat makes my mouth water. If I throw it in the trash the problem will be solved, then again is not a waste to throw away food?

I'm not hungry but the temptation is intense and it takes all my courage to look the other way. I offer the muffin to my husband who only refuses to quickly and easily. How can say no so easily when I sit here contemplating to devour it myself. I offer it to my boys- they don't want a half eaten muffin from their momma. Apparently I have germs that came to existence just a few years.

Do I eat it and deal with the guilt later? No! Do I make a compromise with myself?- (If you eat then you have to work-out an extra hour for it tomorrow.) No! Do I put it away so I can finish it tomorrow. *drools* Yes. I need to be strong enough to know that it's more than a muffin I'm craving at this moment. It's peace of mind that everything is going to work itself out because it usually does in the end.

Dinner with Fresh & Easy

Hola Blogger world. Late last week I attended a sneak preview tasting of fresh & easy's new line of products from their fresh & easy Kitchen- eatwell. As you may know, I have been trying my best to change the way I eat as part of my effort in losing weight in addition to exercising. When I learned about fresh & easy Kitchen- eatwell products I was thrilled.

Only those closest to me know, that my freezer is mostly bare and that you can yodel from my pantry. Having the privilege of being a stay at home mom, I frequent grocery markets at least three times a week. Every weekday morning I wake up early enough to cook breakfast and lunch for my boys and Tony (my husband). After I clean my casista and exercise, I run errands. Once my kiddies come home from school I shuttle them to their various activities. Most of our weekends are hectic because of Boy Scouts and Music activities. My days are so full each week, that most nights we eat out for dinner. *blushes* It's true, this stay at home mommy gives up at the end of most days and orders out.

When I went to the tasting my eyes just bulged. I am always on the look out for healthy and affordable ready made meals I can serve my family on our busiest days. As I do not prepare my lunch for the day during the week, I often grab whatever I can find in the fridge or I take a quick trip to the nearest fast-food place. {One of the mysteries of my weight issues is revealed.}

Sitting among other bloggers and the Fresh & Easy staff, I relished in the possibilities of my future meals for myself and my family. Among my favorite dishes I tasted that evening were the Spicy Tuna Sushi Square and the Veggie Hummus Wrap. The dressing you see on my plate above, is the Lemon Hummus Vinaigrette (surprisingly yummy). Each packaged item serves one person and most are priced under $5. What impressed me the most was fresh & easy's commitment too developing a product that was low in sodium, calories, fat, and saturated fat without compromising flavor- mission accomplished. The company prides itself in eliminating over 90% of high fructose corn syrup in all of their products that they produce.

On April 7, fresh & easy will be launching their new 17 line product fresh & easy Kitchen eatwell. Guess what I will be having for lunch that day? The line includes a variety of ethnic dishes from Arroz con Pollo to Bruschetta Chicken to Singapore Noodles to Tuna Nicoise Salad. Aside from salads, the line also includes sushi, sandwiches, and soups.

Thank you fresh & easy Kitchen for inviting me to the yummy preview of your fantastic new line of ready made meals from your new line eatwell.


* The above review on this post is unbiased. I have not received monetary compensation to write this review, although for this particular review I may have received a party favor that was not part of this review.

2010 ~ Week 12

Hola Peeps! This week I have been feeling much more motivated than I have since I started to attempt to lose weight earlier this year. Everyday I wake up and I tell myself, "Only twenty days, only twenty days." Viente días para qué? That's how much time it takes to develop a new habit. It's been a bumpy start for me but I'm getting there...paso a paso.

My motivation comes from the tweeple I follow on Twitter, the Biggest Loser on NBC, and the warm weather that we Californians have been enjoying over the past couple of weeks.

Some of the tweeple (people on twitter) I follow represent to me the various stages I have been, and where one day I want to be. Some are where I am now and others have made exercising as part of their daily life. Then, there are the ones who inspire me- they run marathons. Truthfully, I am not a runner but I would love to jog in the Los Angeles Marathon one year. Okay, maybe the NPN LA 5K is more of a realistic goal for now.

My heart goes out to the tweeples who struggle to shed the extra pounds they lug around. Since the time I have re-gained my weight, I have many days where I feel sluggish. Earlier today while on the treadmill, my chest hurt. My breathing was constricted and the swelling from my cheeks and neck added to the pressure on my tongue, which made me feel as though my body was chocking me. !Ay, dios mío! Me estaba muriendo right there on the TREAD MI LL, at the gym!! Trying not to panic, I stayed on the killer machine and pushed forward. My goal was to do 3 miles total, but alas I only finished 2.35 miles (on an incline.)

Feeling puffy after my deathly work-out, I started to think about the contestants on The Biggest Loser show. I can't wait to see it later tonight. They have many roadblocks but they continue to push forward. If they can do it, I can do it!

Now, I am sitting here in my flip flops and shorts wishing I did not look so disproportionate. My lower legs and ankles are thin while the rest of me is plump and round. Nursery rhyme characters come to mind when I look at myself in the mirror. If my lower legs were as chunky as the rest of me, then I would not look so bad in shorts, skirts, or dresses. Spring is already upon us- I can no longer hide behind my big knitted sweaters and scarfs.

Weight: 188 lbs (that's right!)

Waist: 37" *rolls eyes*

Last week when I weighed myself, I did so with my tennis shoes on. I've never lost more than 3 pounds in week, so I don't know how else to attribute the 7 pound loss. My waistline....still maintaining. The count down to twenty days begun last week ~ 13 more days. 

I'm doing this!!!

2010 ~ Week 11

Hola! I'm back on track baby!! Two days ago my hubby and I were watching The Biggest Loser on NBC. I know the show has been on for several seasons, but I have to admit it was our first time watching this program. The individual stories inspired me to get off my big butt, stop making excuses, and do something to shed the weight towards a healthier body.

In case you have been hiding under a rock- The Biggest Loser is a reality show. The contestants are divided into two teams and each week they work hard to lose weight. The teams compete against each other by playing games and losing weight. By the end of the week, they are evaluated by how much weight they have lost as a team. Individual results matter because the losing team must eliminate a team member. As the season progresses, the remaining contestants compete independently. The final weigh-in includes the contestants that had been eliminated during the season and the winner {The Biggest Loser} is determined by how much weight was lost individually- or something along those lines.

Towards the end of the episode we were watching, I was able to relate to one of the contestants, Stephanie. She had been working hard to shed weight. She ate consciously, performed the same work-outs as everyone else on her team, and slept for the standard amount of time. However, Stephanie only lost two pounds in that week. My heart sank for her because it reminded me of my struggles back in January. I was working hard only to lose a pound or two. Past efforts also plagued me with similar results. There were many times when I would not lose a single pound within a week. More than two years ago when I had my trainer, I had incremental weight loss and over the course of 10 months I had only lost about 24 pounds. {As you may recall, shortly later in that year I began to regain the weight and then some.} It has been a frustrating journey.

Many people have suggested to me that perhaps I have some medical condition that has disabled me to drop the pounds. For the most part I am very healthy, with the exception of my high triglycerides. My glands do tend to swell every-now and then, but previous tests have found nothing unusual about my health.

The next day following the segment of The Biggest Loser, I was energized and I had a Great work-out at the gym. I also took the time to weigh myself. Ay, dios mio! Here it is:

Weight:  195 lbs

Waist:  37"  

I think I'm bloated because the numbers ▲ don't make sense; my waist size should be larger. After my last work-out a few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to check my weight at the doctor's office when I took in my youngest for a check-up. My previous weight was in fact 190 lbs. This means I gained a whopping 5 pounds over these past what 4 or 5 weeks? I don't want to count anymore; it hurts too much to do it!

It takes about 20 days to develop a habit, according to a psychology class I took back in my college days. *ego bruising, trying to stay strong* Today is day two- I can do this people!!

Asta luego!

2010 ~ Week 7, 8, 9, & 10

Whoa MAMA! [refers to the post title] That's a long stretch of time since I last reported my weight loss efforts. I'm not going to give you a long sad excuse, because one does not exist. After my last post regarding this goal, I had a great workout at the gym. I was feeling motivated and I felt that I would be able to continue to keep it up. Qué paso!!?? I allowed myself too much freedom to neglect my health- that's what happened. No yoga classes, no exercising at the gym [or anywhere else for that matter], and no eating healthy portions. My goal was successfully squashed in the past 4 weeks! Ay no! I feel disgusted with myself as I write this while trying to reflect over it objectively.

For a fact, I know I will not head out to the gym today because I have run out of time. Tomorrow, maybe....I have to try super hard to make it happen tomorrow. Saturday and Sunday, olvidate! Monday, *taps foot* **purses lips** more than likely- I have no fantastic excuse for that day. Mis pantalones are squeezing the life out of me. Walking short distances takes my breath away. Señora Juárez! This is B A D!!

Enough babble for now. I hope to give you a fat juicy post on my efforts next week versus today's skinny version.

☺Adiós! 

2010 ~ Weeks 5 & 6

Oh my goodness! I have let time pass me by without blinking an eye at my dear blog. No pudia serlo because I have been feeling weighted with guilt.

Over the past couple of weeks Southern California has been drenched with several inches of rain. Several miles north to where I live is La Cañada. Late last year the mountains were ablaze scorching the hill sides where many homes lay. Now with all the down pour of heavy rains, the charred land on the hills of La Cañada have turned into a goopy sludge that has threaten to slide down and engulf numerous homes, cars, trees, and anything that stands in its way. People who live in these homes have suffered incredible damage to their properties at the hands of the monstrous sludge.

Watching the news covering the rains in Southern California reminds me of the looming fear I have about my weight loss goals. Constantly, I feel the threat of defeat by the ominous sludge that is composed of scrumptious gastronome temptations and bountiful readymade excuses not exercise. *bows head in shame* (((deep sigh))) These past two weeks my perilous sludge washed over me bruising my will to succeed. Regretfully I gave into eating fat laden foods and sugary treats by the mouth full. Day after day the gym was ignored by yours truly.


Granted, I do not have the threat of losing my home to a mud slide, but I do feel a profound fear that I will regain the little weight and few inches around my waist that I worked so hard to lose over the month of January. Yo se que no perdi mucho- 2 pounds and 3 inches around my waist, but that lost means that I was able to accomplish something attainable in terms of my weight loss goals. I went from Week 4, "Yes, I can do this!" to Week 5, "Oh no, es muy difisil, no lo puedo ser."

Everyday I struggle to convince myself to go to the gym and exercise. I slip into my work-out clothes, fill-up my water bottle, and grab my hand towel with one hand and my car keys in the other hand. I'm ready to go! To go....to go.....to go.....ggggo....move it chamaca....go! Deep inside me I can feel my sludge sliding over me pulling me down slowly and steadily. Before I realize it, I am out on the town in my day wear running errands.


To make matters worse, I weighed myself while at Target last night. Ayi estava en el piso una weigher, so I stepped on it. *furrows eyebrows* I have no idea what I truly weigh. According to Target, I weigh 195 pounds!!! According to the fabuloso gym, I weigh 186 pounds!!!???
Sadly I regained an inch and a half around my waist => 37 inches. No lo quiro crear. ((sad face))

Week 7 is not turning out too well either. I need motivation!! Tony's great adventure at the gym fizzled before it even had a chance to get started. We headed to the gym late on a Friday only to be turned away because the sales staff went home for the evening. Oh well, it was a lonnng shot. I'm on my own and I need to get my boodie back in shape!

If I can get one day in of exercise this week, I will be very happy. In the meantime, I will continue to practice yoga and eat less. No more hiding from hard work!

I can do this!!

2010 ~ Week 3

   Week three was a test of my will. This time around I made one trip to the gym. (((super long sad face))) On the bright side, my food cravings have decreased. I am now eating much less than I did earlier this year. Last week, (the only day that I went to the gym) I started using the weight machines in addition to the speed walking I have been doing on the treadmill.

   Recently, I started doing some research for an article I wrote on weight loss. {I will let you know for who, later this week.} The research I am doing is helping me to learn more about the subject matter. For now I am doing it the old fashion way, lots of Hard Work. Practicing Yoga has helped to soothe my sore muscles after weight lifting so, I am trying to incorporate it into my daily schedule.

   Bulking up is something I do worry about, that is why no matter how hungry I do get after a vigorous work-out I refrain from gulping a heavy meal. According to the calorie calculator, I should only be consuming 2,300 calories per day. However since I am trying to lose weight I should be consuming about 1,800 calories per day. No, I'm not fanatic about counting each calorie I consume but,  I do try to be aware of how much I eat and how often.

The moment I have been avoiding.....

Week 2 ~ weight 185 pounds ((sigh))

Week 3 ~ weight 186 pounds {trying not to panic}
                  waist 36 1/2 inches {not bad!}

   Eating less is sure to account for my shrinking waistline. The weight gain could very well be from water retention and or an increase in my muscle mass . Each day is a battle to get to the gym, I have so many distractions and a huge to do list that it is easy for me to put exercising to the side. Blogging about this jorney has helped me to put things into perspective. This year, 2010, is the year in which I will achieve my goals.

2010 ~ Week 2

Hola blogger world! ((long sad face)) Week 1 was very rough...three days at the gym, low energy and, a pig-out at Chili’s. Thanks to all my friends who have cheered me on and given me helpful tips to curb my hunger. By increments of four weeks, I will share what I have lost or gained in inches around my waist as well as my weight. *bites lower lips* Here it goes…

Week 1: Waist ~ 39”, Weight ~ 184 lbs

Week 2: Waist ~ 37”, Weight ~ will post after a trip to the gym later today

By the way, I am 5’8” for those of you who may be curious of where I fall on the BMI (body mass index) chart. The two inch drop from my waistline is probably due to water retention from my cycle. In other words, I was bloated. Toda via estoy gordita y barrigita. ; )

My obsession for food this week inspired the following entry:

DIETING===>MODIFYING

Dieting makes me feel as though I am "dying" from starvation. My psyche goes into survival mode and I begin to resent the need to eat; a battle between my mind and my body. Yo se qué no me estoy muriéndo but try telling that to my barriga. Each meal is a struggle and I ask myself, "Do I really need to eat a full meal? Can't I just snack?” During the evening my personal battle is heighten to full steam. Now I have to account for my boys. Brightly I turn to them and announce, "How about a box of blueberries each for dinner tonight?" {It's more of a statement than a question} My boys retort, "mauommm, what about the meat?” Uggghh!! "What about the meat? How the heck do you think vegans survive without it?" I know a small handful of vegans and let me tell you, they survive quite well without meat in their diet. "Butttt, we are not VEGANS mom! We are mostly carnivores."

You may be asking, why make such a big deal about meat? My boys love fatty foods just as many other people do. Often I roast vegetables and serve it with a side of thinly cut grilled chicken breast. Every now and then I'll add rice or bread to the meal. Sounds good, huh? Yup, it's great as long as it's not repeated more than twice in a week. My guys kindly remind me that they are not rabbits and that they need more meat on their plates. [Frowns] "I want to lose weight, and I need you all to eat what I eat. We are all going on a diet whether you need too or not!" Hubby grumbles, "Babe...we are HUNGRY and we are men. We need 'real food'". This gets me every time because my poor husband works long hours Monday through Friday often skipping lunch. He truly is VERY hungry when he gets home from work. Mommy guilt kicks in and I breakdown giving-in before preparing the next meal. Dinner this time - a thinly cut rib eye grilled steak with skillet roasted Yukon Gold potatoes and a side of spinach salad. Not bad, huh? Well, the rib eye steak is laden with fat and my "men" love it! The salad, not so much; hubby and I eat most of it and the boys barely finger it with their forks. (((Sigh))) *rolls eyes*

Food!!! Me gusta comer! I watched and read many articles on the subject of weight loss to know that food does not have to be an enemy. Food needs to be respected as a means to fill us with the nutrition we need to be healthy. In a sense we abuse our bodies when we overeat, eat fatty foods or, foods filled with artificial preservatives and so forth. Many times I've heard that we need to make a conscious decision when we choose what foods we are to put in our mouths before each meal. Easier said than done! When you have created a habit of eating the way I and most others have, making a conscious decision takes too much effort. If I'm hungry and I am out and about running errands skipping lunch to keep up with my busy schedule, I'm going to reach for whatever looks tasty regardless of its healthy attributes or lack of. This is the part that fuels my inner battle with dieting.

It's easier to give into my guys' wishes and my barriga's when I'm dieting because dieting comes with so many restrictions. I do not appreciate being told what I can and cannot do. According to some of the media blitz on health, instead of dieting, the new way to trim down is to "modify our eating habits". {Changing the way we label actions is my favorite way to deal with things I do not like or things that challenge me....resolutions-goals, dieting-modify my eating habits, etcetera, etcetera.} Modifying what I buy to eat will help me to make those rash eating choices more agreeable to my weight loss goals. Sure I'm still hungry but I'm not about to buy goodies for anyone in my household. Now it won't matter what I grab out the refrigerator or cupboard because it is filled with good healthy choices. Actually, you can yodel in my refrigerator and cupboard because I only buy groceries for every three days.

Well readers, cheers to you if you have decided to modify your eating habits. Ching, ching! Oooops, drinking alcohol is another factor. It slows your metabolism thus allowing your body to soak up more fat. Instead, I have decided to toast you and me with a cool glass of water. Cheers!!