Progress...

Ok so it's almost been a week since I started losing weight. First, I just want to say that dieting is so NOT fun!!! However, I know it's the key to loosing weight, so it'll have to go on and on for a while. I was totally off carbs for the first few days and just eating protein and a lot (seriously A LOT) of veggies. I was doing great until church on Sunday. I was sitting there feeling hungry and then shaky. Usually at this point, had I been at home, I'd grab some celery or a red pepper and much on that, but since I was at church, that wasn't an option. To avoid fainting in the middle of singing a hymn, I did something totally against the rules. Yes, I'm ashamed to say I ate not one but TWO Starburst candies. It was bad, I know, but at least I didn't feel like I was going to faint anymore.

Ok so onto my progress. I've lost.... drum roll please...........

5.5 pounds so far!!

Now I have 10-15 to go to feel "not like a cow", but ideally I'd like to loose 20-25 more pounds.

I'll keep you posted.

- Elisabeth

Feeling So.....

FAT! I know I've had 3 kids, I know. Doesn't change the fact that I feel like a cow right now. My husband says I'm beautiful (of course he does) but I need to change things ASAP. Especially since I'm going to be a brides maid in May.

Starting today, like RIGHT NOW, I'm making some drastic changes. To quote Jafar from Aladdin "desperate times call for desperate measures!"

I'm going to start with a 3 day detox to jump start things and clear out my system, then it's calorie counting and The 30 Day Shred - Level 3!

I'll report back in a week. Until then, check out some of the dresses we're thinking of...

Motivation

If you see me eating junk food, or an obnoxious portion, PUNCH ME!!

Results - 1 Month

Hi y'all!

Just a quick note about my weight loss. I've lost 15 pounds and feeling pretty great!! I've been eating A LOT of salad with home made dressing and cutting back on junk food. I've also been running and on Tuesday night, I finally ran my entire 5.4 Km route without stopping. I have a race in one month so as long as I keep it up, I'll be good and ready!

I'm hoping to continue loosing weight, about 15-20 more pounds. Stay tuned!

Me Ka Aloha
- Elisabeth

The Plan

Hey everyone! Ok so I said in an earlier post that I'm going to loose the baby weight by December 1st. I figure that's a reasonable amount of time to loose 40 pounds.

So what's my weight loss plan? Well.... I don't really have a set out plan. Normally I would never recommend NOT having a plan but let me explain.

I'm a mother of 3 children ages 3 and under. My youngest is 2 months and always needs to be picked up and doesn't nap for very long, then I have a 2 year old (who is such a handful these days) and a 3 and a half year old who starts school in a few weeks and I've been trying to get her ready. I just can't commit myself to an intense workout schedule because I honestly don't have the time. After I had my second baby, he would sleep in until 9 am (and so would my oldest). I would get up at 8am, workout, and get in the shower all before they woke up. Unfortunately my kids wake up a lot earlier now. The baby is usually up at 5 am and fusses and nurses on and off until 7:30-8:00 am. My other 2 kids are usually up at 7:30 or 8:00 am. The only way I would be able to workout before they got up would be to start at 4:00 am, something I'm just not willing to do. My husband is also maxed out with work and other responsibilities so he's not available to watch the kids while I workout either. For now, my workout goal is to run 3 times a week, after the kids go to bed around 9 pm.

My diet plan is pretty vague too. I'm breastfeeding and I have to be careful not to cut out too much. I would normally set out a strict diet plan and stick to it, but again, with the craziness of my life and the fact that I'm breastfeeding makes it pretty hard to stay on a diet. I'm cutting out junk food so that means no cookies, brownies, chips, chocolate, ice cream, hot dogs, pizza, etc. I'm eating smaller portions and eating more fruit and vegetables. I think eating smaller portions is key in my weight loss... oh and drinking a lot of water.

So there you have it, my "plan". I know it would be more exciting to read that I'm only eating egg whites or that I'm lifting a million pounds during my workouts.... maybe in a few years.

I'll give you all an update in a week or so and let you know if I'm loosing any weight. If not, I'll have to step it up somehow.

Me Ka Aloha (with love)
- Elisabeth

Time to Lose the Baby Weight

On June 3rd the cutest baby boy was welcomed into the world. We love him so much and we are so happy to watch him learn and grow. My only complaint with all of this is the extra (and I really mean EXTRA) weight I've gained. I've had record breaking weight gain with this last pregnancy by a staggering 20 pounds. So that means my usual 55-60 pound weight gain was 75-80 pounds this time!! It's been over 2 months since I've had my baby and my fingers are still too chubby to fit my wedding ring so it's time to do something drastic.

I'm going on a major diet and exercise plan. I'll discuss what I'm doing later, because the baby is crying and I have to rescue him from the evil play pen.

Me Ka Aloha
- Elisabethb

Recipe Friday - Yummier Protein Shakes

As much as I hate to admit it, when I'm working out really hard or when I'm trying to loose weight, I drink a protein shake for either breakfast or lunch. I'm not one of those "gym rats" that eat only chicken, egg whites, and shakes instead of real food. Trust me, the rest of the day I'm eating a lot of fruits, veggies, and whole grains (and the occasional treat) I've just learned from my personal trainer friends that extra protein is needed when you're trying to build muscle, and lower carbs (notice I said lower carbs instead of NO carbs) will help people lose weight. So today's recipes are how to make a protein shake actually taste good, instead of like cardboard.

First of all, the best tasting protein shake is called Whey Gourmet and you can get this at most sports nutrition places. If you want to save money, Exact (found at Fortinos) isn't too bad either.

Second, you'll need a blender like the Magic Bullet or whatever.

Third, drink your protein shake cold. There's nothing worse than a warm thick shake. Eeewww, I'm grossed out just thinking about it.

Here's a few ways I like my shakes

1. Chocolate Monkey - 2 scoops chocolate powder with half a frozen banana and water. Mix in the blender until smooth.
2. Strawberry Banana - 2 scoops vanilla powder with half a cup of frozen strawberries, half a banana and water. Mix in the blender until smooth.
3. Mint Chocolate - 2 scoops chocolate powder, 4-6 ice cubes, half a teaspoon mint extract, and water or skim milk. Mix in a blender until smooth
4. Orange Creamsicle - 2 scoops vanilla powder, 4-6 ice cubes, half a cup orange juice, and skim milk. Mix in a blender until smooth.
5. Pina Colada - 2 scoops vanilla powder, 4-6 ice cubes, 1/3 cup frozen pineapple chunks, 1 tablespoon canned sweetened coconut puree, water. Mix in a blender until smooth.

I've also heard that mixing in some instant coffee crystals makes a fabulous mocha shake, but I don't drink coffee.

Well, there you have it, 5 wonder ways to actually enjoy a protein shake.

Me Ka Aloha
- Elisabeth

Happy Birthday To.... ME!!

Today is my birthday and it's also been 6 days since I started that Hip Hop Abs shenanigans. I've actually had really sore abs and love handles believe it or not.... however..... I didn't take into account a couple things before I started.

1. The day after I started it was my brother's birthday. Let's just say there was a lot of ice cream cake eaten.
2. My cousin and very good friend came over for girls night. If you've ever met my cousin you'd understand that girls night = FOOD!
3. Adam (my running buddy and Italian friend) came over and made us an Italian dinner, with dessert. Who can say no to that?
4. Today is MY birthday and I was woken up this morning with a HUGE serving of pancakes and strawberries... and brownies.

I know, I KNOW!!! Sounds like a bunch of lame excuses, but it's true. Ok so, I can tell you that Hip Hop Abs is a GREAT workout if you're looking for something fun and full of cardio. Plus it works areas of your abs that you might normally have problems with. I'm pretty confident that that it would work if you didn't have a million events happening (which include food). I'm going to try it again, and this time I'm duct tapping my mouth shut to avoid the surplus of food that seems to follow me every where I go.

Meet me back here in 6 more days.... I PROMISE!

Me Ka Aloha
- Elisabeth

27 years ago I was a little chubby baby.... now I'm just a little chubby.

Tune into Oprah Today if you HATE Dieting!

Ok I've said it before.... I'm not one of those "I love the gospel of Oprah" kind of person. I seriously watch her show like five times a year tops. But for some reason I get emails from her show everyday. Today I read the subject and immediately set my PVR to record today's show (and I suggest you do the same!)

For all of us diet haters, here's something that just might shake up the way we look at food forever. Women all over have been losing weight (and keeping it off) thanks to New York Times best-selling author Geneen Roth's latest book, Women, Food and God. This book has had a significant effect on Oprah's life. "[It] blows the doors off of my tumultuous relationship with food," she says. "It's a love/hate thing that so many people have experienced."

Geneen says the way many women eat doesn't indicate that they necessarily love food. "When you really like something, you pay attention to it and you take time with it. When you like something, you don't eat standing up, you don't eat it in the car, you don't eat sort of shoving the food in your mouth on the way from the stove to the table," she says. "When you like your body, you also pay attention to that, to when it's had enough."

Sounds interesting to me! I've already set my PVR to record it. I can't wait to see the before and after of many women and to hear more about this amazing book. Hmmm, it's my birthday tomorrow. Maybe I'll add this book to my wish list!

Me Ka Aloha
- Elisabeth

Lose 3 Inches in 6 Days?!

One of my best friends and I have decided that we're going to get skinny once and for all! We always complain that we're flabby from having 2 kids each and now we're REALLY going to do something about it. I don't just want to look "ok" I want to look GREAT! I always hear people say "you need to learn to accept your body the way it is." Would you tell your kid who is getting mostly Cs in school to just "accept" those grades? Or would you tell them that they need to work harder and that they CAN achieve the grades they want and deserve? Obviously nobody would accept mediocrity in other aspects of their life, so why do we feel the need to accept it when it comes to our bodies. We CAN change our bodies for the better!! It's happened for a number of people, so why not me?

I've been running 5 km and doing the Jillian Michael's workout for a few months now and I have seen results (see my before and after pictures), but I want to lose more. The goal, lose 3 inches in 6 day!

So what's the plan?
1. Jillian Michael's workout 3 times a week (or more) on level 2.
2. Hip Hop Abs every night. They claim you can lose 3 inches in 6 days. Let's see if it works.
3. Eating mostly fruit and veggies (no potatoes or bananas)
4. Protein shake for lunch
5. Sensible dinner, with mostly veggies (less than 500 calories)
6. No eating after 7:30 pm
7. Drink 8 glasses of water a day

I'm hoping the hip hop abs claim to "lose 3 inches in 6 days" is true. I'm going to give it a try. I REALLY want to be able to post "after" pictures that I can be proud of. Wish me luck!

Me Ka Aloha
- Elisabeth