Friday, July 11, 2008

The day the light came on!

Dick and I celebrated 30 years together by taking a cruise in February. We had so much fun, we always do. When I saw this picture I had a defining moment...I was really fat...my legs were 10 times bigger than Dick's. Although, he really has "nice" legs and there is no competing with that!

Oh Dear!



After seeing that picture, I started walking again and watching what I ate, but really didn't have a game plan. Enter "drum roll" my amazingly convincing daughter Melissa, who kept talking about this new program that really worked she and Shawn were on...and they were losing weight quickly, she was thrilled with the results.

I've been on every diet under the sun, you name it, I've tried it. Seems no matter what, I've always gained back any weight I'd lost, plus some. So I let it go in one ear and out the next. Only, she got louder and louder about how great it was and how healthy they were eating. Now that got my attention! My daughter, the fruit loops, sugar cookie, coke lover was eating healthy? "Okay", I said to her,"what is it? "the dailyplate.com," she said, "just give it a try Mom, just log in the foods you eat and see what happens".

I logged in, joined, and the rest is history. My life will never be the same again, ever!



After using TDP for a month or so I'd lost weight and felt better than I had in ages. I'd figured out that fruits, vegetables and excercise were key. More importantly, I knew I could do this the rest of my life.

I threw out junk food, bought whole foods...fruits, vegetables, lean meats, nuts and whole grain breads and pasta's. Open the fridge and whatever you grab will be okay, cantalope, grapes, low fat yogurt.

Dick still has his coke and sprite...just in 100 calorie sized cans. We eat really good yummy food every meal. I use www.myrecipes.com, they tell you the nutritional value and www.sparkpeople.com has great recipes too!




Another key element to losing weight, is a good scale to weigh your food. I had to learn serving sizes, and this scale is awesome! Eye balling it is tricky, and usually not accurate.

This is the discription from William Sonoma about the scale.

OXO Food Scale

Thoughtful details make this digital kitchen scale effortless to use. Enhanced by large numbers and an optional backlight, its display panel pulls away from the base for easy reading when a bowl or plate overhangs the platform. Readings are in both 1/8-oz. and 1-gram increments up to 11 pounds. Weigh foods placed directly on the removable stainless-steel platform or, using the scale’s zero function, in a container. The zero button allows you to reset the scale for weighing added ingredients. Powered by four AAA batteries (included). 11 1/4" x 8 1/2" x 2" high.

*footnote on the scale, saw it at Bed, Bath and Beyond for the same price as WS, you can use their great 20% off coupons there.



So far, I've lost over 30 pounds and Dick has lost 25! Still need to lose about 30 more, so I'm going to use this site for the journey. I'll be posting pictures, recipes, struggles and thoughts.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Your a brave girl for posting the pic, takes guts! Course I have ALWAYS thought you were/are beautiful no matter what size you are.

I just want to get a refrigerator looking as organized as that one day.

I am so so proud of you!
Sis

Football and Fried Rice said...

You are doing AWESOME!!!

I have a "before" picture. I am in my underwear though, doubt it is going to make any blog :)