Nursing School Continues!

Long time no post as you see! Well I am still in nursing school. I am in my third semester of my adn program. It is very hard & time consuming but I am still loving it and I know this is exactly what I was meant to do. I am just trying to stay focused and trying to be more organized. I know this isn't a lot of information but I will try my hardest to have something else on this site soon! :-)

Weird Water!!

I make no bones about the fact that I am NOT a water person normally. Being on my new "life change" and hopefully for the rest of my life I am trying really hard to "get addicted" to water. Okay so not in the sense of the people in a mental institution who drink so much they get drunk off it but you get the idea. *grin* I have noticed I am very weird about my water.


When I very first started this diet I had to "gag' down the water. I had to add the Ocean Spray packets (just like the more popular Crystal Lite ones but I prefer Ocean Spray). I would put it in my water bottles and get after it. Then I would get burnt out and drink it just plain in a cup of ice but I can taste the "plastic" hose taste in the ice when I drink it plain (from the ice maker). I tried the drink it fast through the straw fix. All of these things were okay for a bit then I got burnt out. My newest thing is I bought a bottle of smart water & after I finished off I keep refilling it. It has about 4 cups of water per bottle so if I can drink 3 of those today I will be to my goal of 12 cups. 


So maybe this wasn't too informative but I write it to just let everyone know...it doesn't matter HOW you drink your water as long as you keep drinking it! I am sure in a day or so I will get tired of the smart water bottle and move on to something else. Just keep drinking!!!!

TG's Week 1 Recap

I did it! I survived week 1! I even came home from class today and went & weighed (middle of the day, lots of water & my shakes ingested, t-shirt, blue jeans & tennis shoes) and I STILL weighed almost 5 pounds less than I did this same day last week! So here is a food recap (you can see journals below) and a few things I have thought and noticed this week:

• I did perfect on my shakes all week!
• I didn't have any cheats all week! Yay!
• No exercise
• I did my best to drink all my water every day but some days I just couldn't get close.
• I noticed when I was sleeping that I could actually breathe and was sleeping with my mouth shut. (In the past 8-10 years I pretty much have to sleep with my mouth somewhat open to be able to breathe!)
• At school I missed the elevator and went up two sets of stairs to meet up with friends and not until I got to the top did I notice I wasn't even winded! (I haven't even exercised so not sure what that is about?)
• My tail-bone and knees have been bothering me lately and I just thought as I was typing this how my hip usually hurts and after one week on this diet no pain! I don't know if maybe it is having more water in my system or if it is because of the milk.
• I have SOOO much energy! You wouldn't think so with the fact that I haven't had solid food in over 7 days now but really I feel GREAT!

:-) Oh Happy Day!

TG's Week 1 Weigh-In

Drummmmm rollll...............

Yay! Lost a total of 9.6 pounds in week 1! I know the other weeks won't be as impressive but it was definitely a good start! Off to school...more later!!!

TG's Daily Total: 1/22/12

Meals: 6 shakes (1200 - Used skim milk.)

1 Ocean Spray water packs (5 Calories)

Water: 7 

Exercise: Nada! :/

TG'S Daily Total: 1/21/12

Meals: 6 shakes (1200 - Used skim milk.)

1 Ocean Spray water packs (5 Calories)

Water: 5 (Uh oh!)

Exercise: Nada! :/

Weekends & Weight Loss

It is funny that any other time I would enjoy the fact that it is the weekend. When you are dieting that is a whole other story! This weekend hasn't been particularly bad but usually that is the time where we "cook" or have dinner with friends. For instance, we are going to a friends house tomorrow night to have dinner...chili (one of my favorites)...but while everyone is eating I will be sipping on my shake. No fun...no fun...eating all alooonnneee! I will admit that I have been very impressed with my husband who has pretty much been "shaking" with me during the day and only eating dinner at night! That has been a huge help. I have not had a lot of time today to "think" about food because of doing homework and cleaning house. The bad thing is at this point I should have had at least half my water and four shakes. I have had ZERO water today and THREE shakes. I gotta get with it! In the meantime...I am going to share some tips I found in order to stay motivated! (Credit given to http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/5-weight-loss-motivation-tips-that-work/ for the information below!)

Staying On Track!

Tip 1: Think Slim

This tip is about that all-important moment: What do you experience just before you eat something? Do you tussle with yourself? “I really shouldn’t… but I want to!” Do you imagine how the food will taste, even feel in the mouth? Or do you focus on the real consequences, rather than the temporary satisfactions of eating?

People who are overweight tend to imagine how food is going to taste and feel as they eat. In contrast, people who naturally ‘eat slim’ tend to imagine how that pie or cake will feel heavy in their stomachs for so long after they’ve eaten it. Jumping from a great height might feel fun whilst it lasts, but the consequences that come after we hit the ground are what we consider when deciding not to do it.

So when you’re tempted to eat something you don’t need, practice imagining how your stomach is going to feel ten minutes or an hour after you’ve consumed that weight-increasing food. Keep it up until this becomes a natural habit for you.

Tip 2: Surround yourself with slim people

No, I’m not suggesting you dump all your less-than-slender friends. But research has shown that the average body type of the people with whom you hang out affects yourweight and size (1). Start hanging around with slimmer, fitter types (perhaps at the gym) and your subconscious mind will pick up a new template for what is ‘normal’. Karen started hanging out and socializing with slim types at a jogging club.

Tip 3: Be fair to yourself

Imagine someone walks up a hundred steps but feels a bit tired, so they stop and step back down one step. They tell you bitterly: “Now I may as well forget this whole idea of reaching the top! I’ve totally blown it!”

What?! You’d think that was crazy, right? Acting as if all that progress, the 99 steps they didclimb, never happened – because they had one slip! But people do this all the time when it comes to weight loss.

You lose weight, maybe four or five pounds, maybe much more. But you slip, have a bad day or a ‘weak moment’, and eat something you shouldn’t have. And what do you tell yourself? “I’ve completely blown it! Now I might as well really binge!”

Beware the perfectionism trap. Aim to eat sensibly and healthily most of the time, not all the time. We all consume more than we should of the wrong kind of food or drink now and then.

Everyone’s weight fluctuates a bit and you should prepare for this (once you’ve reached a healthy weight). Have a ‘sliding scale’ in your mind of a couple of pounds on either side of your target weight. No one can live for long under a self-imposed, too harsh dictatorship.

Tip 4: Weight loss is not a cure-all

Sure, being healthier, fitter, and so on will have positive and maybe unexpected ripple effects. However, even as a slimmer person you’ll still have a bad day in the office, moments of self-doubt, or times when you feel undervalued.

Many people feel let down when they become slimmer and then find that being slim doesn’t solve all their problems in one go. They then revert to eating poorly again. Don’t fall into this trap.

You have lots of different needs which need to be fulfilled in life. Being slimmer, healthier, and fitter is just one of them.

Tip 5: Eat when you’re hungry

I know this sounds obvious, but eating sugary foods causes a subsequent crash in energy, leaving you wanting more sweetness. On the other hand, eating for slow energy release is a sustainable way to keep your weight loss motivation firing on all cylinders without you having to consciously think about it. For slow-release energy, eat protein with every meal alongside ‘good carbs’ such as whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and beans. This avoids the ‘crash and burn’ of sugar overdosing.

I found this part (below) very interesting...kinda makes me think about how our choices REALLY DO affect others!:

(1) Having an obese friend dramatically increases the risk of becoming similarly fat, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Obesity is ‘socially contagious’, spreading from person to person in a social network, researchers said. The study found that if one person becomes obese, those closely connected to them have a greater chance of becoming obese themselves. Surprisingly, the greatest effect was seen not among people sharing the same genes or household, but among friends.

TG's Daily Journal: 1/20/12

Meals: 6 shakes (1200 - Used skim milk.)

1 Ocean Spray water packs (5 Calories)

Water: 7 1/2

Exercise: Nada! :/

Other: I just really wasn't feeling it today. Did the best I cold tho! At least I didn't cheat! Going to bed now and tummy is growling a bit!

TG's Daily Total: 1/19/12

Meals: 6 shakes (1200 - Used skim milk.)

2 Ocean Spray water packs (10 Calories)

Water: 9 1/2 glasses

Exercise: Nada! :/

Other: Nothing!

Standing Strong!

So far so good! I am coming to the end of my fourth day and so far it has been good! I have really wanted to cave in a few times but I have held strong! I keep telling myself it is worth it...I AM WORTH it!!! So not great inspiration here or awesome words but just I know I can do this...I can, I can, I can...I WILL! Thought I would add an old photo of myself the last time I was "small" as added inspiration!

This photo was taken on "Senior Day" in my last year of high school! I used this photo because I specifically remember this day and remember how embarrassed I was because I felt so "fat" in this dress!!!! Do I look fat? Ummm...if I were to only be "that fat". :-) 

TG's Daily Total: 1/18/12

Meals: 6 shakes (1200 - Used skim milk.)

2 Ocean Spray water packs (10 Calories)

Water: 9 glasses

Exercise: Nada! :/

Other: Nothing!

Same thing two days in a row!

Redoing My Game Plan!

So far I am actually feeling good! Yesterday I didn't seem to feel as well but today I just feel like I have a lot of energy. I am really not "hungry" at all but lots of things sound good. For instance, I am not even a dorritos fan but Baylee was eating some and I can almost envision how good they would taste. We also have some powdered donuts here but fortunately they haven't sounded good. I dreamed yesterday about eating a pickle and a burger from Krystal. It really is mind over matter I think. I thought I could get something and no one would not the difference but for once I thought...I WOULD. Not to mention one little chip would completely ruin what I am working towards. I keep telling myself I have had over 32 years to eat what I want & like I read on another person's website...the food isn't going anywhere. I can always eat later on when I am healthier and can eat just a small serving of something bad occasionally. I came across a gem of a website about a lady who has been doing OptiFAST (the program I am basing my fast off of). She has said so many informative things. Between reading her website (optifastblog.wordpress.com) and watching the show Traci suggested (Fat, Sick & Nearly Dying) I feel really good about my decision to make this change in my life. I am glad that day three has gone so well and I am in hopes that the rest of the week continues to go just as well!

So my plan redo is this (based on the things I have read):

Month 1: Continue with my shakes/water only for the remainder of my four weeks.

Month 2: Morning slim fast bar/1 cup milk; lunch shake; afternoon snack chicken broth; dinner shake

Month 3: Morning slim fast bar/1 cup milk; lunch shake; afternoon snack chicken broth; dinner 4 oz chicken and 1/2 cup of veggies

Month 4: Morning slim fast bar/1 cup milk; salad; afternoon snack chicken broth; dinner 4 oz chicken and 1/2 cup of veggies

TG's Daily Total: 1/17/12

Meals: 6 shakes (1200 - Used skim milk.)

2 Ocean Spray water packs (10 Calories)

Water: 9 glasses

Exercise: Nada! :/

Other: Nothing other than benadryl & ibuprofen!

I have decided this week & maybe even next week I am not going to stress too much on the exercise. If it happens it happens!

TG's Daily Total: 1/16/12

Even if I don't get a chance to do this everyday I am going to try to do it as often as possible. As I said before I am doing "shakes" for a month. Might not be the right choice for everyone but this is my "jump-start". On week five I will add in something at breakfast (taking away one of my shakes), week 6 I will add in something at lunch (taking away another shake) and week 7 I will add in something at dinner taking away another shake, week 8 I will add a morning snack (taking away another shake!) and week 9 add an afternoon snack (taking away the final shakes!).

1/16/12

Meals: 6 shakes (1440 Calories)

2 Ocean Spray water packs (10 Calories)

Water: 12 glasses

Exercise: Nada! :/

Other: Multi-vitamin, Vitex Berry (For my female stuff!), hydroxycut (I have one bottle that I have taken before and I am only taking half the dose a day until the bottle runs out to get me used to not eating much each day!)

Prayerfully Losing

WOW...it has been four years since we have used this site! To make matters worse...I haven't even lost/maintained in that time. I have actually PUT ON weight since the very first time we ever posted on this site. I am the biggest I have ever been and when I did my virtual model this morning it wouldn't even go UP to my weight. It is sad, really. I don't know why I just can't manage to lose weight BUT what I do know is it is now time. I have four good motivations this year though:

1. We are going on our first cruise in May. I want to look better, feel better and most of all be happy to take photos at all the fun places we go!
2. Brian's college graduation will be late this summer and I don't want to be the "fat" wife. These are photos to keep forever in remembrance of a great day and I don't want to "hate" looking at myself.
3. My 15 year reunion! I was the "fat" fun & friendly girl at our 10 year reunion and could not find a THING to wear. I want to be able to be cute this time around!
4. My college graduation! I don't want to look like I am wearing a "moomoo" in my graduation cap & gown!

So what am I doing you ask? Well I know some people will turn their nose up at this but this is important to me. I am one of those people that has to see numbers to keep me motivated. I think in a long time the greatest amount of weight I have lost is maybe 20lbs. (Not sure about this tho...will have to look through old post!) I have worked with attorneys who did the liquid diet thing through a local hospital. I have a friend who has done the Optifast diet. Well I decided I am going along these same lines. I am doing a liquid diet (Brian will monitor my BP, etc. at home.) for the next month. I am going to make sure I meet adequate calories, drink plenty of water and take my vitamins. I am going to get in a gallon of water daily as well as a minimum of 30 minutes of exercise.

After the 30 days, you slowly add in "healthy" foods. I am so embarrassed after weighing this morning that I decided I am not sharing my starting weight with anyone until after my four weeks is up. So on February 13th...I will post my starting weight and my weight after the four weeks. Good or bad...I will post both numbers.

I also put a water tracker on my phone (not getting enough liquids each day is a huge downfall for me!) as well as downloaded a blogger link so I have no excuse to not blog because I can do it straight from my phone! I will now put in my very first virtual model which is not actually my very first starting weight because it won't go that high! I will also try to find some fairly recent starting photos.

Update:

I remembered two other things I want to lose for other than the obvious of being healthy & the things listed above! One is that my friends got a boat late last summer and we will be out on it more and I want to be comfortable when I am out there! Also, our family always goes to the lake in the summer and I want to be ready!

Getting My Study On!!

I was reading another blog about nursing that was talking about Making the Grade. It really got me to thinking...I have no idea how to study or motivate myself to study for the next two years of nursing school! I have got to find a good way to retain all the information that will be thrown at me starting Monday. It will probably be a trial and error process but I sure hope it doesn't take me long to figure it out!

Nursing School: Uniform & Supplies

Nursing School: Update

California Girl! :o)

Okay...well not really a Cali girl but what I pretended to be for a week! :o) While Brian was out training in San Diego I got the opportunity to go out and visit him. We had a blast! We saw Old Town San Diego, Pt Loma, La Jolla, SEALS! on the beach!, beautiful sunsets, USS Midway, San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park, Sea World, etc. We even made a road trip to L.A. It was soo much fun! We got to touch and see all the handprints in the concrete in front of the Chinese Theatre. We also got to walk down and look at all the "stars" on the sidewalk. It was really awesome! When we were getting ready to leave Hollywood we saw them setting up for the Salt premier. It was awesome to thing in just a matter of hours so many famous people would be walking down that carpet! Once we left there we went to RODEO DRIVE! It was amazing to see all the famous stores. My favorite part was to see the Beverly Wilshire! It is where Pretty Woman was filmed. I am a HUGE Julia Roberts fan. I even went in and used the facilities. LOL I can't wait to go back again!

All in all it was a great trip! It was hard to leave my hubby knowing that in just a few days after I left that he was heading overseas but it is an experience we were both so glad to have shared together! I love him!

Nursing School: Acceptance