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Caroline's Diet Challenge Diary
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CTV.ca News Staff
Date: Tuesday Mar. 27, 2007 10:48 PM ET
Caroline Blazevic
Age: 35 years old
Family: Married with two children, a girl, 6, and a boy, 3
Height: 5'4
Weight: 174 lbs.
Biggest Challenge:
Spends most of her time on the road as a pharmaceutical sales rep and needs to know how to fit healthy eating into her lifestyle and plan ahead.
March 27
Today has been the reveal and the last day of the contest, but for Paul and I it really just feels like the beginning of so many new things in our life! It's not a close but a beginning.......
Firstly, I'd like to take the time to thank all who were involved with our journey - family, friends, co-workers and viewers. A big thank you to the entire crew at CTV - Canada AM (Thanks Heather, Web support and the morning crew - Seamus and Marci). Another thank you goes out to the people at the Running Room who outfitted us today and will be a part of my life in the next 6-8 months as I train for a fall 5K run in Oct. But mostly a huge thanks to Dr. Mike Roizen and to Jennifer Sygo - you helped us by educating, supporting and encouraging us every step of the way. You have trained and coached us so now that we can go out and do the same of others. Without you Dr. Mike, we still would have been on the couch instead we are now walking, running living life at its fullest and reaping the rewards as we watch the pounds melt away.
I also want to take this time to congratulate the girls - Tami and Suzanne, and their respective others for joining Paul and I on this life altering journey and it has been a pleasure to make new friends and to watch your transformations today and will continue to keep in touch to watch you shed the pounds in the years to come!
I encourage anyone to make the small changes in your life today - 10,000 steps, read the labels, find a partner to do this with - and I can promise you, you will be happy with what you see and you will achieve results. YOU can do it! I know we did and we continue to do so - Paul and I need to do it for each other, ourselves and most importantly for our children. I hope the next time we cross paths, that you see much "less" of us - and we mean that only in the most physical way!
March 24-25
The last weekend before the reveal. We survived yet another busy and challenging weekend. I attended a baby shower on Friday night and I was exposed to great foods such as gnocchi and breaded stuffed chicken. Opted to stick to the veggies and the salad instead and avoided much of the foods I would have loved to eat but my waistline would have hated me for it!
On Saturday, we celebrated my father in laws birthday and since my entire family have been supporting Paul and I, we were able to eat better. We had steamed veggies, with grilled chicken breast, brown rice and salad. There was a cake for dessert but they also offered a fruit platter as well. We topped off the meal with a great green tea. We then went out with the kids and took an 11/2 hr walk along the creek to feed the ducks. Just our walk along helped us log in 4000 steps - a big chunk to our total 10,000 for the day
On Sunday, we stayed in and relaxed as a family. Stepped up on the treadmill and we watched what we ate today. In 48 hours, you will all see the new Paul and Caroline.....
March 23
Friday - Everyone loves Fridays and at the Blazevic's we LOVE Friday more than ever! Here are our results:
Caroline
Waist: 30.5"
Weight 157.5
Paul
Waist: 47.5
Weight: 319
Happy Dances all around!! We have a busy weekend planned! I have baby shower to go to tonight and we are busy doing errands and our daily house cleaning for the rest of the weekend. Have a great weekend everyone! The weather is supposed to be warm and amazing so get those running shoes on and go outside and log in your 10,000 steps - I know we will!!
March 21
Just staying on track and looking forward to our reveal next week! I am looking forward to getting more tips from Dr. Roizen on how to continue with the journey once the contest is over. My biggest concern is at what point Paul and I anticipate a plateau in our weight loss and what can we do to overcome that? Also, looking forward to getting some tips on maintenance once we achieve our weight goals.
Today, I hit the treadmill and I was very careful with my food choices. My total number of steps for the day: 10,300. In fact, I feel so great I will hit the treadmill again this evening for another light jog!
March 20
I have already logged in 13, 217 - thanks to my new running shoes! I got fitted for new running shoes today (something I have never done and I never really invested in a good pair). If only now you could see the condition of the pair I started out with 3 months ago. The treads are disappearing with the recent and constant use of the treadmill! In the past, I would normally have one pair of running shoes that would last me for the whole year. My old pair were giving me a lot of grief and now with a new pair my feet are thanking me. I think I will get a new pair every 6 months! Not a bad investment if that means keeping my new waistline! Gotta "run" - need to get in another video workout and I am running out of time today!
March 19
It's already 5:30pm and I have already logged in about 19, 332 steps (this includes a 5am workout on the treadmill) I have been really busy at work today and feel like I've been on my feet all day!
Lunch consisted of a grilled chicken sandwich and I plan on having a butternut squash soup for dinner! No more timbits and no more nachos! If you saw me driving through the Tim Horton's today I was ordering a large earl gray tea! It looks like my son is coming down with a cold so I will have to make this short tonight....hopefully I'll be able to squeeze in a video workout!
Dr. Mike - Paul only cheers for the Maple Leafs! True Blue!
March 17 & 18I had a very challenging weekend. I learned this weekend that I am a stress eater. We had car problems this weekend and we also had a leak in our basement that caused some major structural damage so as a result of dealing with this new stress, I ended up eating some terrible food choices.
To get away from our bad luck, on Saturday, we went out to Failte's with our kids for a St. Patrick's Day lunch and I ordered the Nachos and a cabbage/potato soup. Then we stopped over at Tim's and along with my coffee I had 3 Timbit's. We then went to the mall with the kids and we walked around the mall for a couple of hours. I was able to log in 6100 steps by mid afternoon and by the end of the day I had 16, 989 steps logged in for the day. (A good workout out on the treadmill with my Ipod helped me blow off some steam).
On Sunday we visited my sister and we went out for lunch (again L). This time I ordered the mixed green salad with a grilled chicken breast. I went back to the plan and tried hard not to punish myself mentally for the mistakes I made yesterday. I still felt guilty on Sunday but at least in better spirits and better equipped in handling my stresses. We bundled up the kids and took them for a long walk along the lake and then I found time at the end of the day for a good treadmill work out so by the end of the day I ended up logging in 13, 964 steps. Yah!! Back on track and feeling better!
March 16
Friday... and it means only one thing to us right now! A check in point to see how much we are 'waisting" away!
Caroline
Waist: 30 ¾" (down ¼")
Weight: 159.5 (down ½ pound)
Paul
Waist: 48.5" (down ½ ")
Weight: 320 (no change)
I was reading Tami's blog and have to share in her sentiments. I too find myself talking about the YOU on a Diet plan to almost everyone I know. I work in an area where I know a lot of people (some up to 9 years now), and they have seen me yoyo with my weight. Since the weight loss is now noticeable I am also getting asked how I did it and what my secret has been to losing the weight. No secret folks! The "YOU on a diet" works. As long as you have a commitment to making the change and the patience to see it come off slowly (1-2 pounds a week) anyone can achieve a healthier and a slimmer waistline. It seems like my days are filled with talking about reading labels with everyone. If you don't have the book already, what are you "waist"ing for - YOU and your loved ones will appreciate it! Have a great weekend!
March 15
It has been extremely busy at work so I have to admit that instead of having breakfast and lunch I combined the 2 and had brunch. I stopped over at my Favorite restaurant "Cora's" - a Montreal-based restaurant that serves healthy and wonderful breakfast/lunch options only. I ordered an egg white western omelet and I was proud of myself for not eating or even being tempted to eat the side dish of home made hash browns. I did end up having to eat some almonds around 3 pm today. I was working through the lunch hour and before I knew it, it was already mid-afternoon. I will be having an earlier dinner and I am so looking forward to having a mixed green salad topped with a chick pea and three bean medley.
I am also getting my strap replaced on my pedometer so it will be wearable and back in working order. Thanks Dr. Mike. Paul is doing great and looking great each day. We are both in auto mode with our food options and workouts. This part has really been staged into our days.
Tomorrow is waist day......just 2 more weigh-in days (Fridays) before our big reveal on the show!!!
March 14
Hump day and I had a great day at work today! The only sad thing that happened today is my pedometer is not functioning well. I may have to go out and get a replacement - an investment that I wouldn't think twice about! I think everyone should own a pedometer! My mom just told me yesterday that she has been following the rules of the YOU diet with regards to reading the labels and watching her food intake. She doesn't have a pedometer so she is unsure of how many steps she takes, and yet she has lost 7 pounds in 6 weeks! She is also very happy with her results! I think I know what to get for her birthday next time!
It's getting close to show time and we are excited to reveal our results to you. Paul and I are naturally incorporating our new behaviors and if we fall off we are there to catch each other. Everyone should try losing their waistlines....doing so will make you feel YOU-phoric!! I know I do! Gotta run...since I haven't been able to wear the pedometer at work today, I am uncertain with the steps I have logged. This will still not stop me from jumping on the treadmill. Habit makes perfect!
March 13
I am quite late in getting in my diary today.....I was extremely busy with work...just in steps alone I logged in 4800 steps. I also visited my sister who had surgery yesterday. She is now at home and doing well. It should be a speedy recovery for her. Since I didn't get home till quite late, we ended up ordering pizza and balsamic Mediterranean salads. The pizza was a whole wheat pizza with grilled chicken, spinach, red peppers and red onions. No sauce and just a bit of olive oil - hold the cheese! It was great! Well gotta "run "- I have another 5000 steps to make up for before the end of the night!
March 12
Monday means one thing... 6 more days to lose another pound... and the countdown begins
Here is my YOUreka moment about losing the weight...it is all about input/output. Watch the labels and eat (input) what is not processed and then move the legs and make sure they are always moving (output). I have tried many diets and all have failed me. I have to say, the YOU on a Diet truly works and is the simplest plan. No counting of points/calories/meals, no excess of one food over the other...it is about balanced and better informed food choices that help keep your body satisfied all the time. And coming from a person who never really liked gym in high school and was never really athletically inclined (call me the bookworm student), exercise is another key element to keeping healthy and keeping the waistline trim. No matter how much I hated gym in the past, I am now committed to having a gym session each day in my life - forever. I can not skip gym class.....and since I am the type of person that is results driven (hence why I am in sales) I have to work towards getting an A in this class!
My steps for today are already at 6500 and I will be hitting the treadmill for the balance and I still need to find some time to squeeze in a video workout - this is no longer a challenge since I just stage this into my day - no excuses!
March 10-11
I'll have to be honest with everyone....Paul and I were not the best compliant people on Saturday. We had a lot of fun this weekend but now we have a price to pay for that fun. We started the weekend off the right foot....egg white omelet for breakfast, a tuna sandwich on whole grain bread (we shared the sandwich at the golf show) and then we went to Springrolls for dinner. Paul had the Pad Thai and I opted for the grilled chicken with grilled and skewered Portobello mushrooms. I think where things began to spiral downhill for us were our beverage choices. Without getting into too many details, let's just say we had more than the recommended one glass of red wine for the night.
The good news is we definitely logged in more than the 10,000 steps - in fact we each logged in close to 20,000 on Saturday. The entire day was filled with activity: We walked for several hours at the golf show (the kids crashed in the car on the way home due to sheer exhaustion from all the walking) and then we walked around the downtown core after dinner. Then we danced all night with See Spot Run. So hopefully what damage we did with our diet has been neutralized by all the physical activity! I know my feet hurt today from all that dancing!! We are back on our plan with a vengeance today (Sunday). I plan on making some homemade vegetable soup. And we plan on doing our video workout with a long walk outside with the kids today.
March 9
It's Happy Dance Friday at the Blazevic's again! Here is our waist loss for the week:
Caroline
Waist: 31" (down half an inch)
Weight: 160 (down 1.5 lbs)
Paul:
Waist: 49" (no change)
Weight: 320 (down 1 lb)
So another week has gone by and we are getting closer to our goals....I am 10 pounds away from my first goal.....Then I have another 20 lbs to lose by September - I am hoping to weigh 130lbs for my sister's wedding in September. I find having yourself set the mini goals makes the journey manageable and achievable.
Keep up the great work Tami and Suzanne...I have been reading your blogs this week and I am so impressed with your commitments and your successes too!
Wish us luck for the weekend - we have a jam packed weekend and we have alot exposure to a lot potential pitfalls to our plan. But we are armed and ready and we already have a plan in place on how we are going to overcome the temptations and yet enjoy ourselves this weekend!! Until Monday......
March 8
The weather is finally warming up and Paul and I are just dreaming about getting ourselves out on the golf courses this year!! It's been a long time since I have played golf (its been tough to play golf with 2 young ones) but in the past we used to take the golf carts - this year will be different - walking the courses will be in order! It will be interesting to see how many steps one can track with their pedometer in a round of golf? A four hour round has to be more than 10,000 steps a day! This is my husband's logic - or I think his reasoning with me to play more golf this year!!
My meals today consisted of the usual breakfast - egg white omelet. I sometimes change it up and will have whole wheat toast with organic peanut butter for breakfast. Lunch consisted of a veggie sandwich with mustard on whole wheat. It's my father's birthday today so my mom has invited us over for dinner tonight. She is very supportive of our goals and plans on making a meal that will help us keep to the plan. In fact, my parents are also following the plan, so instead of a birthday cake, we are having a fruit bowl for dessert!! Thanks Mom!!
P.S. Jen - to answer your question - I absolutely got the steps in - in fact no matter what the day entails and how long and tiresome the day may be I make sure I don't go to bed until the pedometer reaches 10,000! So on that note, I am only sitting at 5127 - that means I have to "run" - literally!
March 7
Sticking to the plan, working out the steps and constant encouragement to ensure commitment - it really doesn't get any easier than that! I have had my ups and downs but now that is has been 6 weeks since starting the YOU on the Diet, I have to agree with Tami , the changes are pretty automatic and easy. It really is just a new way of living.
I have yet another challenging weekend ahead. We are planning on attending the Golf show with the kids (our entire family are golf fanatics - including the kids) and we are anxiously waiting for the golf weather to arrive. My mother in law will also be babysitting Saturday night so Paul and I have a date this weekend! Dinner and rawkin' with our favorite band live in TO - Gonna Getcha with See Spot Run!! We will definitely have to be careful with our dinner and drink choices on Saturday!
It's only Wednesday and we are so looking forward to Saturday! Maybe an extra cardio and video workout will help with the highly anticipated Saturday night menu!
March 6
Lately the days are just flying by.....I am looking at my watch and I just got home with the kids and already 3/4 of the day have past and I haven't been able to get in a workout today. I did squeeze in a workout last night but fatigue got the better of me this morning so again I have to default to nighttime workout today. I so much prefer working out in the morning - it really gets your day starting off on the right foot!
I have only logged in 4140 steps so I will need to put in at least 45 min on the treadmill to reach my 10,000 steps for the day. The meal plan on the fridge is really working for me. I know what I should be eating and when and have avoided my bad habits of snacking. Since the cold temperatures have hit (-35 with the windchill today) I am drinking a lot more tea than I normally do. Just need that hot beverage to warm me up in the car!
I have to admit, my kids were raised to drink herbal tea from the time there were infants so getting them to drink tea over juice is never a battle. In fact our evening snacks always consist off air popped popcorn with a cup of strawberry decaf herbal tea. No sugar and no honey. On that note, I should go now and get the tea kettle ready for our evening night cap!
March 5
It's already 6:30 pm and I have already logged in 9517 steps for the day. I will have to make this short since I need to feed the kids and then head out in half an hour to register my son for kindergarten. Where does the time go?
I have stuck to the meal plan today that has been posted on the fridge and I feel a lot better about controlling my snacking habits. For lunch I packed a container of fresh cut veggies and found a low fat and high fiber hummus that I used as a veggie dip. For dinner, I plan on broiling Tilapia fish with sautéed broccoli. I still need to find some time tonight to fit in a video and cardio workout so I will end here as I am running out of time tonight.
March 3-4
I have noticed that I may have been veering off the plan recently. My old snacking habits returned - I am sneaking in an extra square of chocolate or an extra snack of walnuts etc. So this weekend I went to Dr. Roizen's website www.realage.com and printed off this week's meal plan and went so far as to post it on my fridge beside the children's calendar. I am making an adjustment to making sure I don't have another uturn - how it's so easy for old habits to return!!
On Saturday we had some friends over for dinner and I served lean pork loin chops with grilled veggies and salad. For dessert, I found a great recipe from Dr. Roizen's website for frozen banana's - just dip the bananas in milk and roll them in some chopped nuts and then freeze - to serve them, I cut them up and placed them in a martini glass topped off with a small square of dark chocolate! It tasted like banana ice cream without all the sugar and fat!! We even indulged in a glass of red wine that night too!!
Sunday we found ourselves feeling tired and not as motivated to work out. We did however have the energy to push each other and by the end of the day, Paul and I both found ourselves completing a cardio workout and a YOU video workout! Paul even said, "Thanks for getting me off the couch today!!" No excuses - as Dr. Roizen would say!!...and Paul...Thanks for getting me to push myself for the extra counts in the video!
Sunday's Steps - 13,229
Video workout - yes
March 2
I awoke this morning feeling sore from all the snow shoveling yesterday, but when I stepped on the scale I am seeing the rewards of all the hard work. I am down another 2 pounds making my total weigh /waist in today at :
Caroline
weight: 161.5 pound (down 2lb )
waist: 31.5 " (down 1/2 ")
Paul:
weight: 321 pound (no change)
waist: 49" (no change)
Happy Dance!! Happy Dance!! I love Fridays more than ever!! The weekend has soon come upon us in and when I first started the YOU diet I was petrified of being at home and having access to food all day. This fear no longer exists! I feel in complete control so I no longer have the cravings or desires to raid the fridge/pantry as I once did before. The only cravings I now have is to jump on a treadmill, run with the kids, walk with my husband etc - I crave being active and having fun in my life. There is so much more reward in doing that than eating the sugar loaded foods I once ate - those foods just leave you feeling empty and never satisfied. So this weekend I leave you with this thought - grab a friend, a loved one, or your pet and walk! YOU will love it too!!
March 1
It's already end of the work day today and I have put in 12, 655 steps and I haven't even placed a foot on the treadmill! Thanks to a busy day and a snow storm (lots of shoveling) I was able to easily crank over the 10,000 steps! I am finding that getting in the steps easier over time. It has now become second nature and something I think about less and less because I am feeling more active and having more energy to go the extra mile without all the effort..........gotta go....need to shovel the driveway again..........
Speaking of effort and energy, I just got back in from shovelling the driveway , again! I think we got about 20 cm of snow already and now I'm sitting at 14,000 steps on my pedometer! And the day is not even over yet! The kids asked for some hot cocoa after they were out shovelling the driveway with us, but we convinced them to have chamomile tea instead and must say we heard no complaints - as long as the beverage warms us up!!
Feb. 28
It's already 6pm and I have logged in 5218 steps for the day - this means one thing - time to hit the treadmill. I didn't get the chance to do a cardio workout this morning but a 40 min light jog will take me over the 10,000 required - not a problem!
For lunch today I opted to having a veggie sandwich on whole wheat bread. My mom has delighted me with an awsome Croatian dish for dinner - bean stew or otherwise known as Mahone. I remember eating this growing up as a child and I did not enjoy it at all and now at 35 I have this meal as a staple to our diet! And lovin' it too! I simple soup with lots of green/yellow string beans and barley! I am really feeling for my husband - he desperately needs to go out and buy new pants - he even had a few comments from his fellow colleagues! Paul - go buy the pants!! What are you waiting for?! I can't wait to see you in some new slimmer looking clothes! By the end of this I may not even recognize my husband!! I feel like I'm falling in love with him all over again!! It's great! Feb. 27 What a crazy day today! Busy and on the go! I feel like I haven't stopped and I've already clocked in 8108 steps for the day without a cardio workout! Just got the kids ready for bed and I am quickly writing my blog before I hit the treadmill and before sheer exhaustion hits me too! I haven't been the most compliant person today when it came to my food options - I snuck in 2 timbits (bite size donuts Dr. Mike) today and I had a white veggie pita and I think it had a dressing in it that I shouldn't have had! I didn't pack my lunch and resulted in eating out today. For dinner I reserved myself to only having a cabbage veggie soup and an earl gray tea. No snacks for me tonight! Paul is doing really awesome. I am packing his lunches and he has completely avoided the late night munchies too. That used to be his downfall! I think we really need to get him into some new pants real soon! The ones he owns are falling off of him! Not even his belt will hold them up! Lol......he really has embraced this challenge without even asking for it. Feb. 24 & 25 Saturday Our family went shopping for groceries today at Costco or better known as the 300 club! I couldn't believe how many good choices there were!! We restocked on a lot of fish and chicken! They even have frozen tilapia or sole individually packed - great for 1 person meal options without having any go to waste! I even found an awesome crisp bread - Ryevita - low fat, low sugar, high fiber and lots of whole grains. Speaking of grains - I do have a nutritional question. I am starting to get confused with regards to reading the labels around grains. Jen or Dr. Roizen, I am reading labels that identify the whole wheat in different ways ie. Unbleached, untreated, durum, enriched....Can you help clarify what type of whole wheat is in its pure state? Steps: 13,255 Sunday I made an awesome salad and I think I am addicted to it (had it for lunch and dinner) - it is a bean salad chock full of kidney beans, chickpeas, parsley, green beans, red peppers, salt, pepper, olive oil and white balsamic vinegar. Add a couple of Ryevita crisp breads and a banana for dessert and you are truly full for a long time! I couldn't finish my meal - a lot of fibre and protein that's for sure!!! Paul and I had some fun with the video workout today. We worked on it together and we were pushing each other to go the extra mile and slip in an extra sit up or do an extra count with the planks! The treadmill is still going strong and the pedometer is never at rest and neither are we! February 23: Here is my blog for the day! I just got home from my week long conference and I have to admit I was extremely anxious to step on the scale today. So here are the highly anticipated results: I survived my most challenging week so far!! I avoided the desserts and always asked for a cup of fresh fruit or berries for dessert. The walnuts saved me from being tempted by the scones, tarts and other baked goods during the coffee breaks and I found a lot of salad, mixed veggies and lean meats to eat during the lunches and dinners!! I have to thank everyone at the meetings for all your support, your compliments and words of encouragement - Being away from home meant I would be away from my support system (hubby and rest of family) so the people I worked with this week became my newly adopted support team!! And all of you were awesome!! Thank you!! You all know who you are!! I couldn't have survived this week without you cheering me on!! I also have to take a moment to thank my mom this week...she became our rock this week while I was away and became Paul's new support member during my absence as well!! She made sure Paul was eating healthy this week too. Tami and Suzanne - keep up the great work! I am just now catching up with your blogs and I want to congratulate you both on your hard work!! Keep it up! February 21 So I survived the dinner last night...Chicken and salmon were on the menu last night and I asked the chef if he could make the chicken without the saffron cream and it was amazing to see the restaurant accommodate me and help me make better choices. What has been even more amazing, is that my colleagues have been very supportive here. After our dinner, we decided to walk back to the hotel instead of taking the bus. We even changed into our workout clothes after dinner and took a 40 min walk around the downtown core - it was an amazingly warmer night than usual so we took advantage of the warmer weather and got out to enjoy some fresh air. Walking with your friends really makes the time exercising go by quickly - we had a blast - laughing and power walking! Having a walking group really ensures your commitment to getting in the 10,000 steps and best of all - its a great opportunity to catch up with friends and share a laugh or two!! Gotta go...have to ramp up my steps...I am sitting at only 3,345 steps for the day and its already 5:30pm! February 20 I am survivng the conference. I am trying the best I can to look for great food chocie - fish, salad, chicken and fruit. I brought along my own oatmeal for breakfast and I've found a way to add some banana or some strawberries to make the meal more robust. I have my bag of walnuts and I even found a great whole grain cracker that was portable for snacks! Also, lots of water and alot of walking. I am walking at least 4,000 steps throughout the day (the location of the conference is huge and requires alot of walking from one workshop to another). I am then hitting the gym in the evening and making up the last steps for the day!! I have to giggle when I've gotten comments from others such as " Haven't seen you in a long time - you look great! Different!" or I have even heard " You're shrinking!" I love it! Thanks to all who have noiced the changes - it helps to continue reinforcing my efforts in making sure the changes I have already made continue to be the norm for the rest of my life!! Gotta go - dinner is calling...hope the restaurant can accomodate my request for chicken and salad...if not...then I'll have to make an extra effort at the gym tonight!! Cheers! February 19 I am anticipating my biggest challenge since starting the YOU diet!! I am attending a week-long conference and I will have no control over the types of food available for me. Typically these meetings have a great variety of options (buffet style) but there will be no labels to read so I am left to do the best I can this week. I do have an action plan. I have packed along some apples and walnuts for the midmorning and mid afternoon breaks. I am hoping the wait staff can make egg white omelets for the mornings and typically at the lunch hour there is always a salad and a lean meat offered among the variety of food at the lunch buffet tables. Dinners will be challenging.....I will keep you all posted on my progress throughout the week. Due to time constraints I will blog on Wednesday and on Friday this week. I have also brought along my mat, the YOU video workout (I plan to play the video on my laptop in the hotel room) and my workout clothes in order to hit the gym whenever I can - even if it means a quick jog at 11pm!! I will make sure I get the 10,000 a day (I think aside from the food challenge this will be another big challenge as we will be in workshops all day) Stay well to everyone and wish me luck!! February 18 Saturday - I went shopping for some new clothes - I am attending a business conference next week and really needed some new clothes. I am noticing that my current clothes are not fitting too well. So I shocked myself! I would normally wear a large in tops and this time I am wearing medium sized tops. The pants I own are not looking too great - even adding another hole to the belt still made the pants look baggy and unpolished. I would normally wear a 14 - this time I am trying on size 10/12 pants! I even bought a size 10 skirt!!!!! I can't remember the last time I wore a size 10!! If only you could have seen me do my happy dance in the mall!!! Lol...... Sunday - The bridal shower.....how did I survive? I wore my size 10 skirt today and having it on me all day reminded me of what it has taken to get to this point and how much more work I still need to accomplish in my journey. That vision alone stopped all temptation. I think the size 10 is more than a number right now for me - it is a reflection of my journey and I am really happy that it has a deeper meaning than just being a size label inside the skirt. What an adrenaline rush! The bride to be looked beautiful and the food looked amazing and I got some great ideas for my sister's upcoming wedding shower. Again, the weight loss has brought on not only a physical transformation of who I am but my inner self has changed too. I used to feel like I was observing life and now I enjoy being a full participate in all of life's events!! No matter how small or large the event may be! Steps for the weekend: Video workout: Yes February 16 Another weigh in day. here are the results: Caroline: Paul Paul We are definitely slowing down and keeping it steady - as per Dr. Roizen's request and we are very happy with our results and accomplishments. I sent a picture of myself to a friend recently - one of myself before I started the YOU diet and one of myself just 4 weeks after starting the diet - she was shocked at how different I looked - in fact - I think I shocked myself!! I can't wait to see what another 4 weeks will bring me!! And then another 4 weeks, and then another 4 weeks and then when I reach my goal I'll have a lifetime to maintain it - a journey I'm willing to accept! It truly is one day at a time...there are ups and downs each day....but knowing the YOU-turns and getting back on plan quickly ensures success....try it everyone...YOU will impress yourselves too!! February 15 This coming weekend will be a bit of a challenge. On Sunday I am attending a Bridal shower - no shortage of food and great desserts!! I do have a plan - I plan to eat before I go and that way I can hopefully avoid any temptations because I'll feel full and I'll just have to completely turn a blind eye to the dessert table - no take home trays for me!! Today was a busy day....just in steps alone (I haven't hit the treadmill yet) and I clocked in 6800 steps! I have to admit, my job allows me to be active - even though I am driving, I am also running in and out of my car and I also take the stairs whenever I can. I plan to hit the treadmill this evening and I am aiming at getting at least 11,000 steps today. Lunch was great - ordered a chicken breast with grilled veggies from a local restaurant. I am finding better options while I am eating out and making those healthy decisions are a lot easier now! Tomorrow is weigh in day...I did take a peak (on the scale) earlier this week and I think I may come in with little to no change. As Dr. Roizen puts it - we should be seeing slow and steady weight loss - I think I am starting to see that - and no discouragement from me!! I am feeling better than I have in a long time so I am not fixating on the scale - it then becomes a numbers game - and it's a game I don't want to play! February 14 Happy Valentine's Day to all!! Since February is considered heart month, it is also comforting to know that Paul and I have been doing the YOU diet and taking care of our hearts and health - probably the best Valentine's gift we have given to each other in a long time!! I was packing Paul's lunch today, and for a Valentine treat, I made strawberries, topped with probiotic vanilla yogurt sprinkled with chopped walnuts and one square of dark chocolate (70% cocoa) - I also plan to have this dessert later on today! We are both feeling better and getting back to increasing our steps. Since our snow day, I may have to crank up the treadmill in order to get the 10,000 steps today... just a small adjustment to the day! YOU can do it - keep up the great work everyone and to the recent viewer, Pat Stewart - I have a secret endeavor to one day run a 5k run (I have been wanting to do this for over a year). Thanks for your encouragement and I may get there soon enough! As Dr. Roizen puts it...slow and steady!! February 13 Today I'm feeling a bit better and it was a real challenge at work today. I have been around a lot of valentine treats - cookies and chocolates and I have to admit, I gave into the temptation - maybe because I am still not feeling 100% and the comfort food felt really inviting especially since I was exposed to it all day!! Last night I still pushed myself to hit the treadmill. I was short of the 10,000 for the day, but I came in at a close 8000. My son really wanted to exercise with me and dragged out the mat and asked me to put on the video. I really was not in the mood to do my strength training, but I thought if I went light on the exercise, it would still help me keep within my rhythm of routine and I still spent quality time with my 3 year old who was overly anxious to do sit ups with me!! For lunch today I enjoyed a veggie and chicken wrap on whole wheat pasta - the meal came with rice. In the past I would have polished off the whole thing, but lately I am finding myself feeling full faster on smaller portions of food! Tonight I plan on having my chicken noodle soup and I will take Dr. Roizen's advice - lots of water! Or better yet Chamomile tea for a night cap! February 12 I am now under the weather - compliments of my husband. I made more home-made chicken soup and this will be our staple for the next couple of days. I added lots of veggies and found a brown rice noodle to give the soup some substance but went easy on the salt. We are anticipating a snow storm in the next coming day so the soup will come in handy. Since I am not feeling well, I'm not sure if I can guarantee the 10,000 steps today. Just looking at the treadmill right now makes my muscles ache even more right now...it will be a challenge today...when I feel under the weather I do crave comfort food...so to see how I can avoid the cookies and crackers will be a test....hey hold on...I forgot...I have no cookies and crackers in the house - Dr. Roizen threw them away!! February 11 I had a relaxing weekend spending time with my family. (Paul was not feeling well this weekend - he came down with the flu). We invited my in-laws over for dinner and I decided to make pork tenderloin, with grilled veggies, salad and wild rice patties. This was the first time I made these patties and they were an absolute hit (Paul only ate soup all weekend - poor guy). In case anyone is interested in the recipe here it is: Combine cooked chilled wild rice with cooked chilled brown rice. Add a couple of beaten eggs with salt pepper coriander and whole wheat flour. Form into patties and bake in the oven for 20 min. They look and taste fantastic. For dessert, I served a fruit platter. I have to admit, I snuck in a piece of chocolate. My daughter was writing her Valentine's Day cards for her friends and we were attaching chocolate hearts to the cards when I fell to the temptation of having a small piece of chocolate - otherwise I behaved myself all weekend. Paul was challenged in getting the steps in this weekend because he was under the weather and I was able to log in about 12,000 steps for Saturday and Sunday. February 9 Friday and another weigh in day....Are you ready for this? Here are the results! Caroline Paul Paul and I were just talking last night and we realized that before we started the YOU diet, we were somewhat unhappy people. With the changes we have made, we find ourselves happier with ourselves and much happier with each other. We are at the halfway mark of this contest, and the one way I can sum it up so far is " We used to live to eat, now we eat to live!" Our lives now are full of activity, full of fun and we are feeling so much better. This journey so far has been inspiring and rewarding. I think I'm having a YOU-reka moment Dr. Roizen!! We are doing more than we ever did before and this feeling alone gives us the drive to challenge ourselves to do the extra steps in a day or to do an extra sit up from the video workout. We are each delivering over 10,000 steps a day and we are finding ourselves competing to see who can bring in the larger number at the end of the day. We may have lost some weight, but Paul and I regained our spirits back and it is this spark that helps us to continue on with this journey of transformation. Have a great weekend everyone and don't forget to walk 30 min a day!! Weigh to go Tami and Suzanne! February 8 So last night I decided to make Thursday's dinner in advance in order to help save some time. I needed to deviate from our usual chicken and brown rice meal and really wanted to make spaghetti - the healthy version. I went out and bought extra lean ground turkey and came home thinking I had all the other ingredients. I could not find a spaghetti sauce in the grocery store that was suitable ( too high in fat or too high in the sugar content) so I decide to make my own sauce. Thought for sure I had a can of diced tomatoes in my pantry only to soon discover I only had a jar of salsa instead. So I thought, why not Mexican-Italian Fusion? I sautéed onions in olive oil and added the ground turkey. Then I added the salsa with some tomato paste. I added more raw veggies to thicken the sauce and then near the end of the cooking added some real basil and oregano and presto - a spicy Spaghetti sauce - ole!!! So tonight I will be preparing some multigrain spaghetti noodles with my new sauce with a side garden salad. The pedometer is still clicking away and I am now trying to challenge myself by trying to aim for 11,000-13,000 steps a day. Some days are easier than others and if I fall short of this stretch goal at least I am still clocking 10,000 steps a day. February 7 Hump Day - I agree with Tami- the cold is so inviting to stay inside , just relax on the couch and curl up with a good book , but instead, today after work I gathered the kids, we turned off the tube and cranked up the tunes. We were dancing in the house for a good hour to our favorite Canadian band, See Spot Run and we were all having a blast especially listening to their song "weightless" - how ironic! I am so energized and it feels so great to have the ability to spend more quality time with your family! Even the kids are calmer!! Since the kids are eating healthier, I find they are sleeping better and more alert throughout the day with little to no dramatic mood swings - a welcome to any mother!! (maybe its because their sugar intake has been depleted) Also got in a treadmill workout in the morning and I am planning on completing the video workout this evening. My kids always roll up their sleeves, pull out their mats and join me in the video workout - they love it too! It's so cute watching a 3 year old and a 6 year old trying to do push ups! LOL.... In light of the cold weather, I had a warm cabbage soup loaded with lots veggies and brown rice noodles for dinner today- compliments from my mother in law! Thanks mom! The soup is definitely a great staple to get through the cold days and nights and it works great to help me stick to the plan!! Keep up the great work Tami (Jim) and Suzanne! February 6 I am feeling fantastic! I am so happy with our progress so far. When I open our fridge now we see lots of colors - red peppers, green lettuce, yellow pears, purple onions...it really is inviting to see your fridge brighten your day every time you open it! Speaking of food, I have a question for Jennifer...I know Canola oil is probably a good choice of cooking oils. I have been using sunflower oil. Is this oil acceptable? Also, do you have a good recipe for us that would be a healthy choice but also great for entertaining guests? Yes - we have another dinner party on Saturday. I also find working out is so automatic for us. I use to dread even having the idea of needing to get on the treadmill but I now find myself wanting to go on the treadmill - there is a new found passion and commitment for working out. I find myself feeling so much better and really energized after a great sweaty workout! February 5 It is so awesome to get the viewers support and comments - thank you to all who have written to us! And a big congrats on your weight losses as well! I hope you are all doing the "happy dance" like Paul and I are! Since I am on the road daily, I find I need to pack my meals for the day. For the last 3 weeks I have avoided any take out food including the fast food salads (except for the recent Chinese food on Saturday ) This is what a typical work day menu would look like and the below mentioned is very portable: Morning: egg white omelet with veggies I would agree with Dr. Roizen - keeping 2/3 meals the same every day helps you from deviating from the plan. I have to admit, there is a small element of boredom (sometimes) with the breakfast and lunch options but I look forward to the variety at dinner time. I have to admit I have encountered times where I could not eat my homemade lunch and have eaten at a restaurant. Knowing this in advance, I would always go online and examine the restaurants menu and make my decision before I get to the restaurant in order to avoid impulsive and poor decision making. Planning, teamwork and execution - sounds like a business proposal? yes and I think the same could apply when we manage our health ( we owe it to ourselves) - plan your meals, work with a team (a partner for support - I have my husband, Tami and Suzanne) and execute the plan - 30 min exercise and eat the right foods -The YOU on a Diet plan is really quite simple. Steps: 11,154 as of 4:30pm February 4 Okay, everyone....here's the good, the bad and the ugly of our weekend. I will start with the bad. Due to the extreme cold Canadian winter (-27 with wind-chill), we could not barbeque so we did not have our anticipated steak dinner. And because we did not have a back up plan, our bad turned into the ugly....we ordered Chinese food. We did our best to sticking with the good choices like Beef and Broccoli and mixed Chinese vegetables but we also had the rice (not brown) and I'm sure the choices we had were also high in sodium. The good news is on Sunday we were able to go back to the plan and stay committed. Even despite the fact that is was Super bowl Sunday, we still found a way to avoid all temptations that a super bowl game might bring. Paul and I found ourselves eating Chicken breast with brown rice and salad. No munchies and no beer. Just almonds, popcorn and water for the game. It's amazing how your body adjusts to the types of food you eat. When we ate the Chinese food we felt horrible (physically) and as soon as we went back to eating the healthier options, we felt better again. We definitely got in the 10,000 steps and we even found ourselves slipping in an extra video workout February 2nd Another big day! We were so excited to step on a scale today - so here we go - the waist and weight measurements: Caroline Weight: 166.9 Paul Weight: 340 Wow! Since starting the program I have lost a total of 7.1 pounds and Paul has lost an amazing 17 pounds!! I have heard that men have an easier time at dropping the weight. Way to go Paul! He says he is feeling great and he even went so far as to dig out his old hockey equipment and he is planning to play hockey with the boys tonight - something he hasn't done in the last 2 years!! Thanks for the advice Dr. Roizen. We are having dinner with my sister and her fiancé on Saturday and we would like to have a small steak for dinner - a treat for being successful so far! We promise to keep the portion to only 4 oz! Well, gotta go - need to keep the pedometer running and the legs moving! Stay tuned for our weekend progress on Monday. February 1st When I was getting ready for work this morning, I noticed my clothes were fitting differently today. I don't think I'm quite ready to go out and buy a new wardrobe quite yet, but I am seeing a difference in how my current wardrobe is fitting - looser and more comfortable! This means only one thing though, weight loss= new clothes! Yah! This is coming from a girl who loves to shop! By 6 pm today, I had already logged in 10, 302 steps. I got in my treadmill workout this morning and I have to complete the YOU workout video this evening. For dinner I made a great pasta dish - sautéed onions in olive oil with tomatoes and mushrooms. Add some pieces of grilled chicken breast and add the whole wheat pasta. Sprinkle with basil seasoning and - presto! An awesome dish - even my kids couldn't get enough of the dish - truly a kid friendly dinner!! Paul is doing well and has been consistent with logging in the 10,000 steps daily. He has commented how it is getting easier. We are wondering though , if we can have a small steak this weekend? So far we have been eating chicken and fish and we are curious to know if we can add a red meat, lean pork or veal to our selection of dinner choices in order to broaden the interest in our foods? Please help Dr. Roizen and Jennifer! January 30 To answer Dr. Roizen's questions about the popcorn - we add nothing else to the popcorn other than our favorite all dressed or sour cream and onion popcorn seasoning you find the grocery stores. We are finding seasoning on all our new food options really awake the senses and make the new foods taste awesome! Paul also invested in a new pair of running shoes - one pair he keeps at home by the treadmill and the other pair remains at work for his daily walks - that way he can guarantee he gets in the total 10,000 steps a day! A small adjustment but a big pay off! Things are getting easier - I find we are in a groove and in a routine with our new lifestyle. We have the same breakfast and snacks almost everyday. Our dinner selection does vary from day to day. Paul and I work different times of the day so we never find ourselves having dinner together. Planning is essential and now the planning process is almost automatic for us - no extra effort. I need to workout on the treadmill tonight. I usually get up and work the treadmill at 5:30 am but today I slept in till 6:30 am so I need to make up for lost time this evening. I am already at 7900 steps for the day with a treadmill waiting to help crank up the pedometer in order to reach my goal. A secret to increasing the steps? - take the stairs instead of the elevator! January 29 I just got home from a very busy day and I've already logged in 10, 553 steps for the day! The kids and I ran around in the basement and had some fun playing indoor soccer and before I knew it I am well over the required amount of steps so think I am going to bypass the treadmill tonight. I still have to complete the YOU video workout tonight. I found it easy to get back on track after a not so great weekend - at least when your at work you don't have the time to think about food. I find that boredom at home can be an evil to overeating or least munching on the bad things! I went out for lunch today and had salmon with grilled vegetables. For dinner it will be stone rye bread with sauerkraut (one of my favorites). Every other night I treat myself to a snack before 8:30pm (I won't eat anything after 8:30pm) So this past weekend I purchased an air popper for popping corn - it's great - I find the popcorn tastes much better than the alternatives! Looking forward to having some popcorn tonight! To date: Weight: 167.8 January 28 How the weekend comes and goes so quickly! Paul did not end up going to his business function on Friday due to a winter storm so he was spared the exposure of fast food! We had our planned meals of chicken and fish and we also took Dr. Roizen's advice in making an avocado and salsa dip - great snack for veggies and pita bread! This was our Saturday night treat!! Getting in the steps was a bit of a challenge for me on Sunday. After we took the kids swimming, I promised my daughter a mother/daughter outing to the movies in the afternoon. I logged in only half the 10,000 steps on Sunday and I didn't get a chance to workout on the treadmill. I'm hoping to hit the machine later in the evening on Sunday. Hoping to get back into my routine over the course of the week! January 26 Look out! It's another "happy dance" day today!! Today is waist and weight measurement day and here are the results: Waist measurement: 34.5" (down ½ inch from last week) Paul is down 3 pounds and 1 inch from last week! We are really amazed at how the weight is slowly coming off and yet we find ourselves eating a lot of food and never really going hungry! (except for the occasionally cravings for junk food). We are heading into yet another weekend. We feel better armed at handling the weekends and I have already planned and partially prepared our weekend meals (in order to help us avoid the temptations of ordering in this weekend - in the past we typically would have ordered a pizza on Saturday night). Instead we have some chicken dishes prepared and I found a great recipe for a great fish dish on Sunday. I am discovering that planning ahead can really help curb the temptations of going out or ordering in for the sake of convenience. Paul is facing a big challenge tonight. Paul has a business function this evening where there will be an abundance of fast food. I have a lot of faith that he can overcome the temptations! The pedometers are ticking away and the treadmill is functioning well - stay tuned for our weekend update on Monday! January 25 I thought I would enter today's blog as a reflective one. I've now had the chance to look back at almost two weeks of sweat and tears and I can honestly say how proud I am of both myself and Paul for surviving what probably has been a gruelling two weeks. Our lives went into overdrive and we really felt the changes. Was it easy? No - not initially....is it getting easier...absolutely YES!!!! We are embracing the changes! We are seeing the results and I look forward to reporting our weight and waist measurements tomorrow! It's amazing how in the past, I had no problems waiting sometimes as along as 30 min at a coffee shop line up for a medium double double and you would never have found me complaining about how long the line up was or how long it took to get the coffee. But in the past, if you had asked me to find 30 min to workout on a treadmill, I would have found an excuse and wouldn't have been afraid to pull out all the stops! How things have changes in only 2 weeks! Paul and I are working together at being consistent in following the rules of reading labels. We are trying to ensure adjustments are made throughout the day in order to reach our 10, 000 steps and we are now finding ourselves restocking our fridge with better food options ! Are we working harder, you ask? No. It may look like it but instead we just feel like we are working smarter at managing our new lifestyle. Today, I have logged in 11, 456 steps so far and Paul is over halfway there! January 24 I was reading the viewers comments today and really want to say thank you to all - and a congrats to Ang from Morden, MB. Good for you !! I understand how hard it can be with young children and I am also cheering you on and all the others who have joined us on this adventure to losing weight and living healthy! I was in my pantry last night looking for some "munchies" and I chuckled because since I cleaned out my pantry, I found nothing to eat (when I say nothing, I mean no junk food) so I closed the door and decided to drink a glass of water instead and eat a couple of almonds. I get fooled by whether I am really hungry or just really thirsty. It's a good thing Dr. Roizen invaded my home....otherwise, I think I would have had a setback last night! I was at the grocery store buying some probiotic yogurt today when I felt tempted to ditch the yogurt and grab a candy bar at the cashiers checkout! I feel like I have been in control until recently (the last 24 hours) - the craving for "junk" is setting in.....Just in case you're wondering ..... I only purchased the yogurt. Today my lunch consisted of a turkey sandwich with lots of veggies on 100% whole wheat bread with mustard and dinner will be Thai chicken Stir Fry (chicken with veggies on brown rice) and I may have to grab 1 oz of dark chocolate for dessert in order to fulfill my craving! Also had my nuts and fruit to balance out the day! Caroline's summary: Treadmill: 30 min, 2 % incline, speed 3.0 ( I promise not to overdo it Dr. Roizen) Paul's summary: Treadmill: no treadmill, 1hour walk at work January 23 I may have been pushing the envelope with the treadmill amount but Paul is more inline with the time and total steps - he is sticking to the 30 min rule and getting in 10,000 steps a day! I'm finding I have the energy and stamina to go the extra mile so I am trying to go to 60 min a day at a steady speed. This morning we made another egg white omelet (can you tell this is one of our favourite recipes - easy and fast!) add in a banana for the car ride into work and don't forget the coffee (with 1% milk no sugar) and we were good to go! Even the kids eat egg whites with whole wheat toast! I did the video workout that Dr. Roizen left for us, and I've started to use the intermediate level. At first, it was very difficult just for the balance alone, but last night I found it a lot easier and I was surprised at how much better my balance was and how many more reps I was able to do throughout the workout! Another thing that has surprised me lately - in the past, you would have found me fallen asleep with the kids with just sheer exhaustion from the day by 9 pm. But recently I am still up and feeling very alert and awake by 12 midnight and when I get up at 5:30am I feel completely rested and ready to go the distance! It's amazing how in just one week your energy level improves immensely! Caroline: Treadmill Summary: 60 min, 2% incline, 3.4 speed Paul: Treadmill summary: 30 min, 2 % incline, 2.6 speed January 22 Surviving the weekend was really not that bad! Keeping yourself busy was the key to being successful this weekend. Sitting around and doing very little could have caused an invasion of the fridge. So I opted to working out more and getting out of the house in order to keep myself active and to keep my head out of the fridge! Paul and I are doing great so far! Paul has logged 22,000 steps for the entire weekend. At around 1pm today he told me he was already at 6,000 steps. He told me he took his running shoes to work along with his ipod and plans take a walk at work on his dinner break tonight! Yes, I still eat out of my car, but this time , I brought along a warm lunch ( sauerkraut with extra lean ground beef with a small whole wheat pita) and avoided all temptations of purchasing my lunch from a corner restaurant chain! Earlier this morning, I decided to eat oatmeal with a banana and added a protein shake to the breakfast meal today and found that I wasn't hungry until 1pm! I even found myself not so hungry when I decided to finally eat my lunch! Typically in the past, I would be starving by the time 10am rolled around! Adding the extra fibre really does help stave off the hunger pangs! Tonight is video workout night and I plan to have fish for dinner tonight - my favorite - tilapia with sauteed broccoli. Treadmill Summary: 60 min, 2% incline, 3.0 speed January 21 We took the kids to their swimming classes and then went off to my moms for a Sunday afternoon lunch/dinner. For those are who are wondering what my daily food intake looks like then here is Sunday's sample: Breakfast: Bran Cereal with 1% milk with fruit (ie banana) Treadmill Summary: 60 min, 3%incline, 3.3 speed January 20 I thought I would increase my treadmill workout, anticipating a not so active day on Saturday. However, my sister called and asked if I could join her in our search for the bridesmaid dresses for her upcoming wedding. So I gathered the kids and we were out most of the afternoon. So I was able to clock more than the 10,000 steps for the day! It felt great! My sister-in-law's party was a great time and we had some great food options - veggies, fruit, 100% whole wheat crackers and pita (minus the dips of course). We also treated ourselves to a glass of red wine last (I think one glass is allowable - right Dr. Roizen? Read YOU on a diet for the details). Paul and I decided to have dinner before we went out to the party in order to curb our temptations for snacking late at the party. Paul made dinner - for those of you who know Paul - this was a first! Paul's expertise in culinary skills is his famous steaks on the BBQ and that's it. So Saturday, he made an awesome egg white omelet loaded up with lots of veggies and spiced it just right. Add a spring green salad with olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette and our dinner was complete! I am really proud of Paul for getting involved in not only watching what we eat but also taking control of what we eat by cooking our meals too! Way to go Paul! Friday pedometer: 7700 Saturday Treadmill Summary: 70 min, 2% incline, 3.0 speed Video Workout: No Pedometer total: 14,573 January 19 I survived the dinner last night! In fact, come to think of it, I survived the first week! Going out to dinner was easier than I thought. I found the Mahi Mahi on the menu and asked if the chef could grill it in olive oil and lemon. The restaurant gave no complaints with my request and they were very accommodating! I have to admit this morning's workout on the treadmill and video workout were difficult. I feel so tired from a long week and I felt I could barely get through the 30 min! But I hung in there and remained true! So today is a big day - the weigh in and waist measurement! I am in complete shock. In one short week, we have seen great changes in our numbers! Are you ready for this? Waist measurement: 35" (down an inch!) Weight: 171.1 (down 3 pounds!) (Paul is down 4 pounds and 1 inch off his waist). Sorry, I forgot to add Paul's pedometer readings for Thursday: 8895 If only you can see us do our "happy dance" right now! But now we're facing another challenge - getting through the WEEKEND!!! This means constantly being around the kitchen! We also have a dinner party to go to Saturday night at my sister-in-laws! I must say, my sister in law has been very supportive and has assured us that we will not have to worry about the food options at the party! Thanks Eva! The support we are receiving from our family and friends is a critical component to our success so far! For example they will call to see what they can make for dinner for us if we are heading over to their place, or they may just call or email us and pat us on the back and give us some words of encouragement! Thanks everyone!! We'll I guess its one step at a time - or should I say 10,000 steps a day! Paul and I are hanging in there! Wish us luck for the weekend! Caroline's treadmill summary: 30 min, 2% incline, 3.5 speed Video Workout: Yes Tami - have fun in Cuba! Suzanne - good luck over the weekend! P.S. I'll have to report today's pedometer steps after the weekend....I will be away today on a business meeting! January 18 Last night, Paul and I felt the 'tug' and 'need' for something "crunchy". But because we agreed to help each other out, together we came up with a solution to help us deviate from the usual choices which in the past could have been the potato chips. We took Dr. Roizen's advice and toasted asparagus with some olive oil in the oven and then sprinkled some sea salt on them. They were fantastic! And crunchy too but without the saturated fats and calories! And we felt satisfied! What I did find challenging these last 24 hours was trying to plan out our meals for the next couple of days. With very young , active children, and a busy schedule, thinking about one more thing like planning your meals can be overwhelming. So I'm trying to make things as easy as possible. I ended up baking some seasoned chicken breast in the oven. I will be storing the chicken in the fridge and using them for our lunches - chicken and baby green salad with olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette - topped with some sliced almonds! EASY! I have to admit I still eat in the car but this time it is out of a tupperware container from home (containing a home cooked meal) and NOT out of a paper bag from a fast food restaurant! Now tonight will be a bit of a challenge for me. I am heading out to dinner with some friends from work! I know the bread won't be whole wheat and there will be butter tempting me at the table ! AHHHH! The perils of eating out. I do have a plan though. The people I work with are very supportive of this challenge so I know they will be there to encourage me to stick to the plan! I'm also more aware of what to eat so looking for those better choices on the menu will be easier! Wish me luck! Let's see how well I can do! Suzanne and Tami - It is great to read your blogs and share in your challenges and successes! I am cheering you both on!!! Pedometer reading: 8545 Treadmill summary: 40 min, 3% incline Video workout: no January 17 My husband and I finished the task of throwing out the bad groceries and when all was said and done, I took a look at my kitchen and was amazed at how empty my fridge, shelves and pantry were. It was now time to go shopping! I gathered the kids this afternoon after work and thought it would be a great idea to also educate them about making healthy choices when it came to purchasing food. At ages 3 and 6, I would really like to see them start developing a healthy lifestyle. Paul and I owe this to them! We went to the grocery store and started to buy things like, whole wheat pita bread, asparagus, brown rice, sweet potatoes, strawberries, fish, chicken etc. and it was amazing to see how my kids asked me with each item I placed in the cart, "Mommy, is that healthy?" The new word in our house is "Healthy". Since it is important to be active in our lives and since Paul and I have now taken the initiative to incorporate exercise into our lives, we felt it was also important to get our kids active as well. They are now enrolled in swimming classes. Today for dinner, I decided to make salmon, brown rice and salad. My kids are not the biggest fans of brown rice. They've always loved their white rice. Well since the white rice no longer exists in my house, I proceeded to make the brown rice and I held my breath as I watched the kids take their first bite of brown rice. I observed carefully anticipating the worst reaction from them but in complete and utter shock, the kids ate everything. In fact, my daughter who is a huge white rice lover said to me, "Mommy, this rice is great! It's better than the other rice you normally make." What an utter surprise! I am looking at my pedometer and I have logged a total of 9180 steps today! I hit the treadmill this morning and plan to use Dr. Roizen's workout video every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. So tonight is video workout! Being on the plan today has really been very painless and I feel very extremely energized! January 16 We just finished meeting with Dr. Roizen today and to sum it up? WOW!!!!!! I never realized how important it is to read the labels and ingredients. I am extremely surprised by what you think is healthy food, in fact, is just full of sugar and fat! Dr. Roizen was amazing in helping us throw out the bad stuff...including my favorite crackers!! It was hard to depart from my favorite comfort food, but with the knowledge I gained today, I know that eating healthy will far 'outweigh' the benefit of having my crackers around! My husband is also joining me on the battle of the blubber and as a team we are determined to make these changes our new lifestyle! I am so emotional with regards to having Paul join me. It means the world to me that he is doing this. I don't feel alone and I always knew he needed to do something about his weight and I'm glad that this platform gave him the springboard to finally commit. We have sooo much to look forward to. We now have the tools to be successful: a healthy kitchen, a pedometer, an exercise program, Dr. Roizen and his staff and my husband and I have each other to support and push each other along the way! I look forward to sharing our new adventure with all of you! January 15 Today is day one of my new adventure. Am I nervous? YES! But I am also very excited and ready to make the changes 'real'. I am looking forward to 'staging' these new changes into my days to come. The treadmill has had its tune up and I am looking forward to meeting with Dr. Roizen. The transformation of my kitchen into a "Healthy" kitchen is welcomed and I can't wait to begin this challenge! Bring it on! If you have questions or comments for our winners, or if you just want to cheer them on, please email hsherman@ctv.ca
Video: Yes
Sat 13,456
Sun 11, 312
Waist: 32"
Weight: 165.5
Waist: 50"
Weight: 325
Weight: 166
Waist: 32"
Weight: 334
Waist: 50"
Snack: Apple with 6 walnuts
Lunch: spring green salad with with chicken breast or whole wheat pasta salad with chicken breast
Snack: orange with almonds
Dinner: varies day to day
Video workout: Yes
Waist: 33"
Waist: 51"
Waist: 34"
Weight: 168.2 (down 3 pounds from last week)
Pedometer: 9956 at midday
Video workout: yes
Pedometer: 6800 at midday
Video Workout: yes
Pedometer: 10113 as of 5pm
Video workout: No
Pedometer: 6800
Video workout: No
Video Workout: yes
Pedometer: 10566
Mid Morning: 6 walnuts and an apple
Lunch: Salad with Olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette, 4 oz of chicken and 100% whole wheat pasta (1/3 cup)
Dessert: 2 tangerines and 1 oz dark chocolate cocoa 70%
Mid afternoon: 6 almonds
Dinner: 3 tablespoons of hummus, 1 med 100% whole grain pita bread - carrot sticks and cucumbers raw - 2 slices turkey
Evening: 2 cups of popcorn (not the microwave type - take1/3 cup of raw popping kernels and place in corningware container with lid in microwave for about 5 min - top with any spice- taste soooo much better than the bagged microwave popcorn - and no hydrogenated oils)
Video Workout: No
Pedometer reading: 10,963
For lunch today I opted to having a veggie sandwich on whole wheat bread. My mom has delighted me with an awsome Croatian dish for dinner - bean stew or otherwise known as Mahone. I remember eating this growing up as a child and I did not enjoy it at all and now at 35 I have this meal as a staple to our diet! And lovin' it too! I simple soup with lots of green/yellow string beans and barley!
I am really feeling for my husband - he desperately needs to go out and buy new pants - he even had a few comments from his fellow colleagues! Paul - go buy the pants!! What are you waiting for?! I can't wait to see you in some new slimmer looking clothes! By the end of this I may not even recognize my husband!! I feel like I'm falling in love with him all over again!! It's great!
Feb. 27
What a crazy day today! Busy and on the go! I feel like I haven't stopped and I've already clocked in 8108 steps for the day without a cardio workout! Just got the kids ready for bed and I am quickly writing my blog before I hit the treadmill and before sheer exhaustion hits me too! I haven't been the most compliant person today when it came to my food options - I snuck in 2 timbits (bite size donuts Dr. Mike) today and I had a white veggie pita and I think it had a dressing in it that I shouldn't have had! I didn't pack my lunch and resulted in eating out today. For dinner I reserved myself to only having a cabbage veggie soup and an earl gray tea. No snacks for me tonight!
Paul is doing really awesome. I am packing his lunches and he has completely avoided the late night munchies too. That used to be his downfall! I think we really need to get him into some new pants real soon!
The ones he owns are falling off of him! Not even his belt will hold them up! Lol......he really has embraced this challenge without even asking for it.
Feb. 24 & 25
Saturday
Our family went shopping for groceries today at Costco or better known as the 300 club! I couldn't believe how many good choices there were!! We restocked on a lot of fish and chicken! They even have frozen tilapia or sole individually packed - great for 1 person meal options without having any go to waste! I even found an awesome crisp bread - Ryevita - low fat, low sugar, high fiber and lots of whole grains. Speaking of grains - I do have a nutritional question. I am starting to get confused with regards to reading the labels around grains. Jen or Dr. Roizen, I am reading labels that identify the whole wheat in different ways ie. Unbleached, untreated, durum, enriched....Can you help clarify what type of whole wheat is in its pure state?
Steps: 13,255
Video: Yes
Sunday
I made an awesome salad and I think I am addicted to it (had it for lunch and dinner) - it is a bean salad chock full of kidney beans, chickpeas, parsley, green beans, red peppers, salt, pepper, olive oil and white balsamic vinegar. Add a couple of Ryevita crisp breads and a banana for dessert and you are truly full for a long time! I couldn't finish my meal - a lot of fibre and protein that's for sure!!!
Paul and I had some fun with the video workout today. We worked on it together and we were pushing each other to go the extra mile and slip in an extra sit up or do an extra count with the planks! The treadmill is still going strong and the pedometer is never at rest and neither are we!
February 23:
Here is my blog for the day! I just got home from my week long conference and I have to admit I was extremely anxious to step on the scale today. So here are the highly anticipated results:
- Caroline
- Waist : 32"
- Weight: 163.5 pounds
- Paul
- Waist: 49"
- Weight: 321 pounds
I survived my most challenging week so far!! I avoided the desserts and always asked for a cup of fresh fruit or berries for dessert. The walnuts saved me from being tempted by the scones, tarts and other baked goods during the coffee breaks and I found a lot of salad, mixed veggies and lean meats to eat during the lunches and dinners!! I have to thank everyone at the meetings for all your support, your compliments and words of encouragement - Being away from home meant I would be away from my support system (hubby and rest of family) so the people I worked with this week became my newly adopted support team!! And all of you were awesome!! Thank you!! You all know who you are!! I couldn't have survived this week without you cheering me on!! I also have to take a moment to thank my mom this week...she became our rock this week while I was away and became Paul's new support member during my absence as well!! She made sure Paul was eating healthy this week too. Tami and Suzanne - keep up the great work! I am just now catching up with your blogs and I want to congratulate you both on your hard work!! Keep it up!
February 21
So I survived the dinner last night...Chicken and salmon were on the menu last night and I asked the chef if he could make the chicken without the saffron cream and it was amazing to see the restaurant accommodate me and help me make better choices.
What has been even more amazing, is that my colleagues have been very supportive here. After our dinner, we decided to walk back to the hotel instead of taking the bus. We even changed into our workout clothes after dinner and took a 40 min walk around the downtown core - it was an amazingly warmer night than usual so we took advantage of the warmer weather and got out to enjoy some fresh air. Walking with your friends really makes the time exercising go by quickly - we had a blast - laughing and power walking! Having a walking group really ensures your commitment to getting in the 10,000 steps and best of all - its a great opportunity to catch up with friends and share a laugh or two!!
Gotta go...have to ramp up my steps...I am sitting at only 3,345 steps for the day and its already 5:30pm!
February 20
I am survivng the conference. I am trying the best I can to look for great food chocie - fish, salad, chicken and fruit. I brought along my own oatmeal for breakfast and I've found a way to add some banana or some strawberries to make the meal more robust. I have my bag of walnuts and I even found a great whole grain cracker that was portable for snacks! Also, lots of water and alot of walking.
I am walking at least 4,000 steps throughout the day (the location of the conference is huge and requires alot of walking from one workshop to another). I am then hitting the gym in the evening and making up the last steps for the day!! I have to giggle when I've gotten comments from others such as " Haven't seen you in a long time - you look great! Different!" or I have even heard " You're shrinking!" I love it! Thanks to all who have noiced the changes - it helps to continue reinforcing my efforts in making sure the changes I have already made continue to be the norm for the rest of my life!!
Gotta go - dinner is calling...hope the restaurant can accomodate my request for chicken and salad...if not...then I'll have to make an extra effort at the gym tonight!! Cheers!
February 19
I am anticipating my biggest challenge since starting the YOU diet!! I am attending a week-long conference and I will have no control over the types of food available for me. Typically these meetings have a great variety of options (buffet style) but there will be no labels to read so I am left to do the best I can this week. I do have an action plan. I have packed along some apples and walnuts for the midmorning and mid afternoon breaks. I am hoping the wait staff can make egg white omelets for the mornings and typically at the lunch hour there is always a salad and a lean meat offered among the variety of food at the lunch buffet tables. Dinners will be challenging.....I will keep you all posted on my progress throughout the week. Due to time constraints I will blog on Wednesday and on Friday this week. I have also brought along my mat, the YOU video workout (I plan to play the video on my laptop in the hotel room) and my workout clothes in order to hit the gym whenever I can - even if it means a quick jog at 11pm!! I will make sure I get the 10,000 a day (I think aside from the food challenge this will be another big challenge as we will be in workshops all day) Stay well to everyone and wish me luck!!
February 18
Saturday - I went shopping for some new clothes - I am attending a business conference next week and really needed some new clothes. I am noticing that my current clothes are not fitting too well. So I shocked myself! I would normally wear a large in tops and this time I am wearing medium sized tops. The pants I own are not looking too great - even adding another hole to the belt still made the pants look baggy and unpolished. I would normally wear a 14 - this time I am trying on size 10/12 pants! I even bought a size 10 skirt!!!!! I can't remember the last time I wore a size 10!! If only you could have seen me do my happy dance in the mall!!! Lol......
Sunday - The bridal shower.....how did I survive? I wore my size 10 skirt today and having it on me all day reminded me of what it has taken to get to this point and how much more work I still need to accomplish in my journey. That vision alone stopped all temptation. I think the size 10 is more than a number right now for me - it is a reflection of my journey and I am really happy that it has a deeper meaning than just being a size label inside the skirt. What an adrenaline rush! The bride to be looked beautiful and the food looked amazing and I got some great ideas for my sister's upcoming wedding shower. Again, the weight loss has brought on not only a physical transformation of who I am but my inner self has changed too. I used to feel like I was observing life and now I enjoy being a full participate in all of life's events!! No matter how small or large the event may be!
Steps for the weekend:
Sat 13,456
Sun 11, 312
Video workout: Yes
February 16
Another weigh in day. here are the results:
Caroline: Paul
Waist: 32"
Weight: 165.5
Paul
Waist: 50"
Weight: 325
We are definitely slowing down and keeping it steady - as per Dr. Roizen's request and we are very happy with our results and accomplishments. I sent a picture of myself to a friend recently - one of myself before I started the YOU diet and one of myself just 4 weeks after starting the diet - she was shocked at how different I looked - in fact - I think I shocked myself!! I can't wait to see what another 4 weeks will bring me!! And then another 4 weeks, and then another 4 weeks and then when I reach my goal I'll have a lifetime to maintain it - a journey I'm willing to accept!
It truly is one day at a time...there are ups and downs each day....but knowing the YOU-turns and getting back on plan quickly ensures success....try it everyone...YOU will impress yourselves too!!
February 15
This coming weekend will be a bit of a challenge. On Sunday I am attending a Bridal shower - no shortage of food and great desserts!! I do have a plan - I plan to eat before I go and that way I can hopefully avoid any temptations because I'll feel full and I'll just have to completely turn a blind eye to the dessert table - no take home trays for me!!
Today was a busy day....just in steps alone (I haven't hit the treadmill yet) and I clocked in 6800 steps! I have to admit, my job allows me to be active - even though I am driving, I am also running in and out of my car and I also take the stairs whenever I can. I plan to hit the treadmill this evening and I am aiming at getting at least 11,000 steps today. Lunch was great - ordered a chicken breast with grilled veggies from a local restaurant. I am finding better options while I am eating out and making those healthy decisions are a lot easier now!
Tomorrow is weigh in day...I did take a peak (on the scale) earlier this week and I think I may come in with little to no change. As Dr. Roizen puts it - we should be seeing slow and steady weight loss - I think I am starting to see that - and no discouragement from me!! I am feeling better than I have in a long time so I am not fixating on the scale - it then becomes a numbers game - and it's a game I don't want to play!
February 14
Happy Valentine's Day to all!! Since February is considered heart month, it is also comforting to know that Paul and I have been doing the YOU diet and taking care of our hearts and health - probably the best Valentine's gift we have given to each other in a long time!! I was packing Paul's lunch today, and for a Valentine treat, I made strawberries, topped with probiotic vanilla yogurt sprinkled with chopped walnuts and one square of dark chocolate (70% cocoa) - I also plan to have this dessert later on today!
We are both feeling better and getting back to increasing our steps. Since our snow day, I may have to crank up the treadmill in order to get the 10,000 steps today... just a small adjustment to the day!
YOU can do it - keep up the great work everyone and to the recent viewer, Pat Stewart - I have a secret endeavor to one day run a 5k run (I have been wanting to do this for over a year). Thanks for your encouragement and I may get there soon enough! As Dr. Roizen puts it...slow and steady!!
February 13
Today I'm feeling a bit better and it was a real challenge at work today. I have been around a lot of valentine treats - cookies and chocolates and I have to admit, I gave into the temptation - maybe because I am still not feeling 100% and the comfort food felt really inviting especially since I was exposed to it all day!!
Last night I still pushed myself to hit the treadmill. I was short of the 10,000 for the day, but I came in at a close 8000. My son really wanted to exercise with me and dragged out the mat and asked me to put on the video. I really was not in the mood to do my strength training, but I thought if I went light on the exercise, it would still help me keep within my rhythm of routine and I still spent quality time with my 3 year old who was overly anxious to do sit ups with me!!
For lunch today I enjoyed a veggie and chicken wrap on whole wheat pasta - the meal came with rice. In the past I would have polished off the whole thing, but lately I am finding myself feeling full faster on smaller portions of food! Tonight I plan on having my chicken noodle soup and I will take Dr. Roizen's advice - lots of water! Or better yet Chamomile tea for a night cap!
February 12
I am now under the weather - compliments of my husband. I made more home-made chicken soup and this will be our staple for the next couple of days. I added lots of veggies and found a brown rice noodle to give the soup some substance but went easy on the salt. We are anticipating a snow storm in the next coming day so the soup will come in handy. Since I am not feeling well, I'm not sure if I can guarantee the 10,000 steps today. Just looking at the treadmill right now makes my muscles ache even more right now...it will be a challenge today...when I feel under the weather I do crave comfort food...so to see how I can avoid the cookies and crackers will be a test....hey hold on...I forgot...I have no cookies and crackers in the house - Dr. Roizen threw them away!!
February 11
I had a relaxing weekend spending time with my family. (Paul was not feeling well this weekend - he came down with the flu). We invited my in-laws over for dinner and I decided to make pork tenderloin, with grilled veggies, salad and wild rice patties. This was the first time I made these patties and they were an absolute hit (Paul only ate soup all weekend - poor guy). In case anyone is interested in the recipe here it is: Combine cooked chilled wild rice with cooked chilled brown rice. Add a couple of beaten eggs with salt pepper coriander and whole wheat flour. Form into patties and bake in the oven for 20 min. They look and taste fantastic. For dessert, I served a fruit platter.
I have to admit, I snuck in a piece of chocolate. My daughter was writing her Valentine's Day cards for her friends and we were attaching chocolate hearts to the cards when I fell to the temptation of having a small piece of chocolate - otherwise I behaved myself all weekend. Paul was challenged in getting the steps in this weekend because he was under the weather and I was able to log in about 12,000 steps for Saturday and Sunday.
February 9
Friday and another weigh in day....Are you ready for this? Here are the results!
Caroline
Weight: 166
Waist: 32"
Paul
Weight: 334
Waist: 50"
Paul and I were just talking last night and we realized that before we started the YOU diet, we were somewhat unhappy people. With the changes we have made, we find ourselves happier with ourselves and much happier with each other. We are at the halfway mark of this contest, and the one way I can sum it up so far is " We used to live to eat, now we eat to live!" Our lives now are full of activity, full of fun and we are feeling so much better. This journey so far has been inspiring and rewarding. I think I'm having a YOU-reka moment Dr. Roizen!!
We are doing more than we ever did before and this feeling alone gives us the drive to challenge ourselves to do the extra steps in a day or to do an extra sit up from the video workout. We are each delivering over 10,000 steps a day and we are finding ourselves competing to see who can bring in the larger number at the end of the day. We may have lost some weight, but Paul and I regained our spirits back and it is this spark that helps us to continue on with this journey of transformation. Have a great weekend everyone and don't forget to walk 30 min a day!!
Weigh to go Tami and Suzanne!
February 8
So last night I decided to make Thursday's dinner in advance in order to help save some time. I needed to deviate from our usual chicken and brown rice meal and really wanted to make spaghetti - the healthy version.
I went out and bought extra lean ground turkey and came home thinking I had all the other ingredients. I could not find a spaghetti sauce in the grocery store that was suitable ( too high in fat or too high in the sugar content) so I decide to make my own sauce. Thought for sure I had a can of diced tomatoes in my pantry only to soon discover I only had a jar of salsa instead. So I thought, why not Mexican-Italian Fusion? I sautéed onions in olive oil and added the ground turkey. Then I added the salsa with some tomato paste. I added more raw veggies to thicken the sauce and then near the end of the cooking added some real basil and oregano and presto - a spicy Spaghetti sauce - ole!!! So tonight I will be preparing some multigrain spaghetti noodles with my new sauce with a side garden salad.
The pedometer is still clicking away and I am now trying to challenge myself by trying to aim for 11,000-13,000 steps a day. Some days are easier than others and if I fall short of this stretch goal at least I am still clocking 10,000 steps a day.
February 7
Hump Day - I agree with Tami- the cold is so inviting to stay inside , just relax on the couch and curl up with a good book , but instead, today after work I gathered the kids, we turned off the tube and cranked up the tunes. We were dancing in the house for a good hour to our favorite Canadian band, See Spot Run and we were all having a blast especially listening to their song "weightless" - how ironic! I am so energized and it feels so great to have the ability to spend more quality time with your family! Even the kids are calmer!! Since the kids are eating healthier, I find they are sleeping better and more alert throughout the day with little to no dramatic mood swings - a welcome to any mother!! (maybe its because their sugar intake has been depleted)
Also got in a treadmill workout in the morning and I am planning on completing the video workout this evening. My kids always roll up their sleeves, pull out their mats and join me in the video workout - they love it too! It's so cute watching a 3 year old and a 6 year old trying to do push ups! LOL....
In light of the cold weather, I had a warm cabbage soup loaded with lots veggies and brown rice noodles for dinner today- compliments from my mother in law! Thanks mom! The soup is definitely a great staple to get through the cold days and nights and it works great to help me stick to the plan!!
Keep up the great work Tami (Jim) and Suzanne!
February 6
I am feeling fantastic! I am so happy with our progress so far. When I open our fridge now we see lots of colors - red peppers, green lettuce, yellow pears, purple onions...it really is inviting to see your fridge brighten your day every time you open it! Speaking of food, I have a question for Jennifer...I know Canola oil is probably a good choice of cooking oils. I have been using sunflower oil. Is this oil acceptable? Also, do you have a good recipe for us that would be a healthy choice but also great for entertaining guests? Yes - we have another dinner party on Saturday.
I also find working out is so automatic for us. I use to dread even having the idea of needing to get on the treadmill but I now find myself wanting to go on the treadmill - there is a new found passion and commitment for working out. I find myself feeling so much better and really energized after a great sweaty workout!
February 5
It is so awesome to get the viewers support and comments - thank you to all who have written to us! And a big congrats on your weight losses as well! I hope you are all doing the "happy dance" like Paul and I are!
Since I am on the road daily, I find I need to pack my meals for the day. For the last 3 weeks I have avoided any take out food including the fast food salads (except for the recent Chinese food on Saturday ) This is what a typical work day menu would look like and the below mentioned is very portable:
Morning: egg white omelet with veggies
Snack: Apple with 6 walnuts
Lunch: spring green salad with with chicken breast or whole wheat pasta salad with chicken breast
Snack: orange with almonds
Dinner: varies day to day
I would agree with Dr. Roizen - keeping 2/3 meals the same every day helps you from deviating from the plan. I have to admit, there is a small element of boredom (sometimes) with the breakfast and lunch options but I look forward to the variety at dinner time. I have to admit I have encountered times where I could not eat my homemade lunch and have eaten at a restaurant. Knowing this in advance, I would always go online and examine the restaurants menu and make my decision before I get to the restaurant in order to avoid impulsive and poor decision making.
Planning, teamwork and execution - sounds like a business proposal? yes and I think the same could apply when we manage our health ( we owe it to ourselves) - plan your meals, work with a team (a partner for support - I have my husband, Tami and Suzanne) and execute the plan - 30 min exercise and eat the right foods -The YOU on a Diet plan is really quite simple.
Steps: 11,154 as of 4:30pm
Video workout: Yes
February 4
Okay, everyone....here's the good, the bad and the ugly of our weekend. I will start with the bad. Due to the extreme cold Canadian winter (-27 with wind-chill), we could not barbeque so we did not have our anticipated steak dinner. And because we did not have a back up plan, our bad turned into the ugly....we ordered Chinese food. We did our best to sticking with the good choices like Beef and Broccoli and mixed Chinese vegetables but we also had the rice (not brown) and I'm sure the choices we had were also high in sodium.
The good news is on Sunday we were able to go back to the plan and stay committed. Even despite the fact that is was Super bowl Sunday, we still found a way to avoid all temptations that a super bowl game might bring. Paul and I found ourselves eating Chicken breast with brown rice and salad. No munchies and no beer. Just almonds, popcorn and water for the game. It's amazing how your body adjusts to the types of food you eat. When we ate the Chinese food we felt horrible (physically) and as soon as we went back to eating the healthier options, we felt better again.
We definitely got in the 10,000 steps and we even found ourselves slipping in an extra video workout
February 2nd
Another big day! We were so excited to step on a scale today - so here we go - the waist and weight measurements:
Caroline
Weight: 166.9
Waist: 33"
Paul
Weight: 340
Waist: 51"
Wow! Since starting the program I have lost a total of 7.1 pounds and Paul has lost an amazing 17 pounds!! I have heard that men have an easier time at dropping the weight. Way to go Paul! He says he is feeling great and he even went so far as to dig out his old hockey equipment and he is planning to play hockey with the boys tonight - something he hasn't done in the last 2 years!!
Thanks for the advice Dr. Roizen. We are having dinner with my sister and her fiancé on Saturday and we would like to have a small steak for dinner - a treat for being successful so far! We promise to keep the portion to only 4 oz! Well, gotta go - need to keep the pedometer running and the legs moving! Stay tuned for our weekend progress on Monday.
February 1st
When I was getting ready for work this morning, I noticed my clothes were fitting differently today. I don't think I'm quite ready to go out and buy a new wardrobe quite yet, but I am seeing a difference in how my current wardrobe is fitting - looser and more comfortable! This means only one thing though, weight loss= new clothes! Yah! This is coming from a girl who loves to shop!
By 6 pm today, I had already logged in 10, 302 steps. I got in my treadmill workout this morning and I have to complete the YOU workout video this evening. For dinner I made a great pasta dish - sautéed onions in olive oil with tomatoes and mushrooms. Add some pieces of grilled chicken breast and add the whole wheat pasta. Sprinkle with basil seasoning and - presto! An awesome dish - even my kids couldn't get enough of the dish - truly a kid friendly dinner!!
Paul is doing well and has been consistent with logging in the 10,000 steps daily. He has commented how it is getting easier. We are wondering though , if we can have a small steak this weekend? So far we have been eating chicken and fish and we are curious to know if we can add a red meat, lean pork or veal to our selection of dinner choices in order to broaden the interest in our foods? Please help Dr. Roizen and Jennifer!
January 30
To answer Dr. Roizen's questions about the popcorn - we add nothing else to the popcorn other than our favorite all dressed or sour cream and onion popcorn seasoning you find the grocery stores. We are finding seasoning on all our new food options really awake the senses and make the new foods taste awesome! Paul also invested in a new pair of running shoes - one pair he keeps at home by the treadmill and the other pair remains at work for his daily walks - that way he can guarantee he gets in the total 10,000 steps a day! A small adjustment but a big pay off!
Things are getting easier - I find we are in a groove and in a routine with our new lifestyle. We have the same breakfast and snacks almost everyday. Our dinner selection does vary from day to day. Paul and I work different times of the day so we never find ourselves having dinner together. Planning is essential and now the planning process is almost automatic for us - no extra effort. I need to workout on the treadmill tonight. I usually get up and work the treadmill at 5:30 am but today I slept in till 6:30 am so I need to make up for lost time this evening. I am already at 7900 steps for the day with a treadmill waiting to help crank up the pedometer in order to reach my goal. A secret to increasing the steps? - take the stairs instead of the elevator!
January 29
I just got home from a very busy day and I've already logged in 10, 553 steps for the day! The kids and I ran around in the basement and had some fun playing indoor soccer and before I knew it I am well over the required amount of steps so think I am going to bypass the treadmill tonight.
I still have to complete the YOU video workout tonight. I found it easy to get back on track after a not so great weekend - at least when your at work you don't have the time to think about food. I find that boredom at home can be an evil to overeating or least munching on the bad things!
I went out for lunch today and had salmon with grilled vegetables. For dinner it will be stone rye bread with sauerkraut (one of my favorites). Every other night I treat myself to a snack before 8:30pm (I won't eat anything after 8:30pm) So this past weekend I purchased an air popper for popping corn - it's great - I find the popcorn tastes much better than the alternatives! Looking forward to having some popcorn tonight!
To date:
Weight: 167.8
Waist: 34"
January 28
How the weekend comes and goes so quickly! Paul did not end up going to his business function on Friday due to a winter storm so he was spared the exposure of fast food! We had our planned meals of chicken and fish and we also took Dr. Roizen's advice in making an avocado and salsa dip - great snack for veggies and pita bread! This was our Saturday night treat!!
Getting in the steps was a bit of a challenge for me on Sunday. After we took the kids swimming, I promised my daughter a mother/daughter outing to the movies in the afternoon. I logged in only half the 10,000 steps on Sunday and I didn't get a chance to workout on the treadmill. I'm hoping to hit the machine later in the evening on Sunday. Hoping to get back into my routine over the course of the week!
January 26
Look out! It's another "happy dance" day today!! Today is waist and weight measurement day and here are the results:
Waist measurement: 34.5" (down ½ inch from last week)
Weight: 168.2 (down 3 pounds from last week)
Paul is down 3 pounds and 1 inch from last week! We are really amazed at how the weight is slowly coming off and yet we find ourselves eating a lot of food and never really going hungry! (except for the occasionally cravings for junk food).
We are heading into yet another weekend. We feel better armed at handling the weekends and I have already planned and partially prepared our weekend meals (in order to help us avoid the temptations of ordering in this weekend - in the past we typically would have ordered a pizza on Saturday night). Instead we have some chicken dishes prepared and I found a great recipe for a great fish dish on Sunday. I am discovering that planning ahead can really help curb the temptations of going out or ordering in for the sake of convenience.
Paul is facing a big challenge tonight. Paul has a business function this evening where there will be an abundance of fast food. I have a lot of faith that he can overcome the temptations! The pedometers are ticking away and the treadmill is functioning well - stay tuned for our weekend update on Monday!
January 25
I thought I would enter today's blog as a reflective one. I've now had the chance to look back at almost two weeks of sweat and tears and I can honestly say how proud I am of both myself and Paul for surviving what probably has been a gruelling two weeks. Our lives went into overdrive and we really felt the changes. Was it easy? No - not initially....is it getting easier...absolutely YES!!!! We are embracing the changes! We are seeing the results and I look forward to reporting our weight and waist measurements tomorrow!
It's amazing how in the past, I had no problems waiting sometimes as along as 30 min at a coffee shop line up for a medium double double and you would never have found me complaining about how long the line up was or how long it took to get the coffee. But in the past, if you had asked me to find 30 min to workout on a treadmill, I would have found an excuse and wouldn't have been afraid to pull out all the stops! How things have changes in only 2 weeks!
Paul and I are working together at being consistent in following the rules of reading labels. We are trying to ensure adjustments are made throughout the day in order to reach our 10, 000 steps and we are now finding ourselves restocking our fridge with better food options ! Are we working harder, you ask? No. It may look like it but instead we just feel like we are working smarter at managing our new lifestyle.
Today, I have logged in 11, 456 steps so far and Paul is over halfway there!
January 24
I was reading the viewers comments today and really want to say thank you to all - and a congrats to Ang from Morden, MB. Good for you !! I understand how hard it can be with young children and I am also cheering you on and all the others who have joined us on this adventure to losing weight and living healthy!
I was in my pantry last night looking for some "munchies" and I chuckled because since I cleaned out my pantry, I found nothing to eat (when I say nothing, I mean no junk food) so I closed the door and decided to drink a glass of water instead and eat a couple of almonds. I get fooled by whether I am really hungry or just really thirsty. It's a good thing Dr. Roizen invaded my home....otherwise, I think I would have had a setback last night!
I was at the grocery store buying some probiotic yogurt today when I felt tempted to ditch the yogurt and grab a candy bar at the cashiers checkout! I feel like I have been in control until recently (the last 24 hours) - the craving for "junk" is setting in.....Just in case you're wondering ..... I only purchased the yogurt.
Today my lunch consisted of a turkey sandwich with lots of veggies on 100% whole wheat bread with mustard and dinner will be Thai chicken Stir Fry (chicken with veggies on brown rice) and I may have to grab 1 oz of dark chocolate for dessert in order to fulfill my craving! Also had my nuts and fruit to balance out the day!
Caroline's summary:
Treadmill: 30 min, 2 % incline, speed 3.0 ( I promise not to overdo it Dr. Roizen)
Pedometer: 9956 at midday
Video workout: yes
Paul's summary:
Treadmill: no treadmill, 1hour walk at work
Pedometer: 6800 at midday
Video Workout: yes
January 23
I may have been pushing the envelope with the treadmill amount but Paul is more inline with the time and total steps - he is sticking to the 30 min rule and getting in 10,000 steps a day! I'm finding I have the energy and stamina to go the extra mile so I am trying to go to 60 min a day at a steady speed.
This morning we made another egg white omelet (can you tell this is one of our favourite recipes - easy and fast!) add in a banana for the car ride into work and don't forget the coffee (with 1% milk no sugar) and we were good to go! Even the kids eat egg whites with whole wheat toast!
I did the video workout that Dr. Roizen left for us, and I've started to use the intermediate level. At first, it was very difficult just for the balance alone, but last night I found it a lot easier and I was surprised at how much better my balance was and how many more reps I was able to do throughout the workout!
Another thing that has surprised me lately - in the past, you would have found me fallen asleep with the kids with just sheer exhaustion from the day by 9 pm. But recently I am still up and feeling very alert and awake by 12 midnight and when I get up at 5:30am I feel completely rested and ready to go the distance! It's amazing how in just one week your energy level improves immensely!
Caroline:
Treadmill Summary: 60 min, 2% incline, 3.4 speed
Pedometer: 10113 as of 5pm
Video workout: No
Paul:
Treadmill summary: 30 min, 2 % incline, 2.6 speed
Pedometer: 6800
Video workout: No
January 22
Surviving the weekend was really not that bad! Keeping yourself busy was the key to being successful this weekend. Sitting around and doing very little could have caused an invasion of the fridge. So I opted to working out more and getting out of the house in order to keep myself active and to keep my head out of the fridge!
Paul and I are doing great so far! Paul has logged 22,000 steps for the entire weekend. At around 1pm today he told me he was already at 6,000 steps. He told me he took his running shoes to work along with his ipod and plans take a walk at work on his dinner break tonight!
Yes, I still eat out of my car, but this time , I brought along a warm lunch ( sauerkraut with extra lean ground beef with a small whole wheat pita) and avoided all temptations of purchasing my lunch from a corner restaurant chain!
Earlier this morning, I decided to eat oatmeal with a banana and added a protein shake to the breakfast meal today and found that I wasn't hungry until 1pm! I even found myself not so hungry when I decided to finally eat my lunch! Typically in the past, I would be starving by the time 10am rolled around! Adding the extra fibre really does help stave off the hunger pangs!
Tonight is video workout night and I plan to have fish for dinner tonight - my favorite - tilapia with sauteed broccoli.
Treadmill Summary: 60 min, 2% incline, 3.0 speed
Video Workout: yes
Pedometer: 10566
January 21
We took the kids to their swimming classes and then went off to my moms for a Sunday afternoon lunch/dinner. For those are who are wondering what my daily food intake looks like then here is Sunday's sample:
Breakfast: Bran Cereal with 1% milk with fruit (ie banana)
Mid Morning: 6 walnuts and an apple
Lunch: Salad with Olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette, 4 oz of chicken and 100% whole wheat pasta (1/3 cup)
Dessert: 2 tangerines and 1 oz dark chocolate cocoa 70%
Mid afternoon: 6 almonds
Dinner: 3 tablespoons of hummus, 1 med 100% whole grain pita bread - carrot sticks and cucumbers raw - 2 slices turkey
Evening: 2 cups of popcorn (not the microwave type - take1/3 cup of raw popping kernels and place in corningware container with lid in microwave for about 5 min - top with any spice- taste soooo much better than the bagged microwave popcorn - and no hydrogenated oils)
Treadmill Summary: 60 min, 3%incline, 3.3 speed
Video Workout: No
Pedometer reading: 10,963
January 20
I thought I would increase my treadmill workout, anticipating a not so active day on Saturday. However, my sister called and asked if I could join her in our search for the bridesmaid dresses for her upcoming wedding. So I gathered the kids and we were out most of the afternoon. So I was able to clock more than the 10,000 steps for the day! It felt great!
My sister-in-law's party was a great time and we had some great food options - veggies, fruit, 100% whole wheat crackers and pita (minus the dips of course). We also treated ourselves to a glass of red wine last (I think one glass is allowable - right Dr. Roizen? Read YOU on a diet for the details). Paul and I decided to have dinner before we went out to the party in order to curb our temptations for snacking late at the party.
Paul made dinner - for those of you who know Paul - this was a first! Paul's expertise in culinary skills is his famous steaks on the BBQ and that's it. So Saturday, he made an awesome egg white omelet loaded up with lots of veggies and spiced it just right. Add a spring green salad with olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette and our dinner was complete! I am really proud of Paul for getting involved in not only watching what we eat but also taking control of what we eat by cooking our meals too! Way to go Paul!
Friday pedometer: 7700
Saturday Treadmill Summary: 70 min, 2% incline, 3.0 speed
Video Workout: No
Pedometer total: 14,573
January 19
I survived the dinner last night! In fact, come to think of it, I survived the first week! Going out to dinner was easier than I thought. I found the Mahi Mahi on the menu and asked if the chef could grill it in olive oil and lemon. The restaurant gave no complaints with my request and they were very accommodating! I have to admit this morning's workout on the treadmill and video workout were difficult. I feel so tired from a long week and I felt I could barely get through the 30 min! But I hung in there and remained true!
So today is a big day - the weigh in and waist measurement! I am in complete shock. In one short week, we have seen great changes in our numbers! Are you ready for this?
Waist measurement: 35" (down an inch!)
Weight: 171.1 (down 3 pounds!)
(Paul is down 4 pounds and 1 inch off his waist). Sorry, I forgot to add Paul's pedometer readings for Thursday: 8895
If only you can see us do our "happy dance" right now! But now we're facing another challenge - getting through the WEEKEND!!! This means constantly being around the kitchen! We also have a dinner party to go to Saturday night at my sister-in-laws! I must say, my sister in law has been very supportive and has assured us that we will not have to worry about the food options at the party! Thanks Eva! The support we are receiving from our family and friends is a critical component to our success so far! For example they will call to see what they can make for dinner for us if we are heading over to their place, or they may just call or email us and pat us on the back and give us some words of encouragement! Thanks everyone!!
We'll I guess its one step at a time - or should I say 10,000 steps a day! Paul and I are hanging in there! Wish us luck for the weekend!
Caroline's treadmill summary: 30 min, 2% incline, 3.5 speed
Video Workout: Yes
Tami - have fun in Cuba!
Suzanne - good luck over the weekend!
P.S. I'll have to report today's pedometer steps after the weekend....I will be away today on a business meeting!
January 18
Last night, Paul and I felt the 'tug' and 'need' for something "crunchy". But because we agreed to help each other out, together we came up with a solution to help us deviate from the usual choices which in the past could have been the potato chips.
We took Dr. Roizen's advice and toasted asparagus with some olive oil in the oven and then sprinkled some sea salt on them. They were fantastic! And crunchy too but without the saturated fats and calories! And we felt satisfied! What I did find challenging these last 24 hours was trying to plan out our meals for the next couple of days.
With very young , active children, and a busy schedule, thinking about one more thing like planning your meals can be overwhelming. So I'm trying to make things as easy as possible. I ended up baking some seasoned chicken breast in the oven. I will be storing the chicken in the fridge and using them for our lunches - chicken and baby green salad with olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette - topped with some sliced almonds! EASY! I have to admit I still eat in the car but this time it is out of a tupperware container from home (containing a home cooked meal) and NOT out of a paper bag from a fast food restaurant!
Now tonight will be a bit of a challenge for me. I am heading out to dinner with some friends from work! I know the bread won't be whole wheat and there will be butter tempting me at the table ! AHHHH! The perils of eating out. I do have a plan though.
The people I work with are very supportive of this challenge so I know they will be there to encourage me to stick to the plan! I'm also more aware of what to eat so looking for those better choices on the menu will be easier! Wish me luck! Let's see how well I can do!
Suzanne and Tami - It is great to read your blogs and share in your challenges and successes! I am cheering you both on!!!
Pedometer reading: 8545
Treadmill summary: 40 min, 3% incline
Video workout: no
January 17
My husband and I finished the task of throwing out the bad groceries and when all was said and done, I took a look at my kitchen and was amazed at how empty my fridge, shelves and pantry were. It was now time to go shopping! I gathered the kids this afternoon after work and thought it would be a great idea to also educate them about making healthy choices when it came to purchasing food. At ages 3 and 6, I would really like to see them start developing a healthy lifestyle. Paul and I owe this to them! We went to the grocery store and started to buy things like, whole wheat pita bread, asparagus, brown rice, sweet potatoes, strawberries, fish, chicken etc. and it was amazing to see how my kids asked me with each item I placed in the cart, "Mommy, is that healthy?" The new word in our house is "Healthy". Since it is important to be active in our lives and since Paul and I have now taken the initiative to incorporate exercise into our lives, we felt it was also important to get our kids active as well. They are now enrolled in swimming classes.
Today for dinner, I decided to make salmon, brown rice and salad. My kids are not the biggest fans of brown rice. They've always loved their white rice. Well since the white rice no longer exists in my house, I proceeded to make the brown rice and I held my breath as I watched the kids take their first bite of brown rice. I observed carefully anticipating the worst reaction from them but in complete and utter shock, the kids ate everything. In fact, my daughter who is a huge white rice lover said to me, "Mommy, this rice is great! It's better than the other rice you normally make." What an utter surprise!
I am looking at my pedometer and I have logged a total of 9180 steps today! I hit the treadmill this morning and plan to use Dr. Roizen's workout video every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. So tonight is video workout! Being on the plan today has really been very painless and I feel very extremely energized!
January 16
We just finished meeting with Dr. Roizen today and to sum it up? WOW!!!!!! I never realized how important it is to read the labels and ingredients. I am extremely surprised by what you think is healthy food, in fact, is just full of sugar and fat!
Dr. Roizen was amazing in helping us throw out the bad stuff...including my favorite crackers!! It was hard to depart from my favorite comfort food, but with the knowledge I gained today, I know that eating healthy will far 'outweigh' the benefit of having my crackers around!
My husband is also joining me on the battle of the blubber and as a team we are determined to make these changes our new lifestyle! I am so emotional with regards to having Paul join me. It means the world to me that he is doing this. I don't feel alone and I always knew he needed to do something about his weight and I'm glad that this platform gave him the springboard to finally commit. We have sooo much to look forward to.
We now have the tools to be successful: a healthy kitchen, a pedometer, an exercise program, Dr. Roizen and his staff and my husband and I have each other to support and push each other along the way!
I look forward to sharing our new adventure with all of you!
January 15
Today is day one of my new adventure. Am I nervous? YES! But I am also very excited and ready to make the changes 'real'. I am looking forward to 'staging' these new changes into my days to come. The treadmill has had its tune up and I am looking forward to meeting with Dr. Roizen. The transformation of my kitchen into a "Healthy" kitchen is welcomed and I can't wait to begin this challenge! Bring it on!
If you have questions or comments for our winners, or if you just want to cheer them on, please email hsherman@ctv.ca
For lunch today I opted to having a veggie sandwich on whole wheat bread. My mom has delighted me with an awsome Croatian dish for dinner - bean stew or otherwise known as Mahone. I remember eating this growing up as a child and I did not enjoy it at all and now at 35 I have this meal as a staple to our diet! And lovin' it too! I simple soup with lots of green/yellow string beans and barley!
I am really feeling for my husband - he desperately needs to go out and buy new pants - he even had a few comments from his fellow colleagues! Paul - go buy the pants!! What are you waiting for?! I can't wait to see you in some new slimmer looking clothes! By the end of this I may not even recognize my husband!! I feel like I'm falling in love with him all over again!! It's great!
Feb. 27
What a crazy day today! Busy and on the go! I feel like I haven't stopped and I've already clocked in 8108 steps for the day without a cardio workout! Just got the kids ready for bed and I am quickly writing my blog before I hit the treadmill and before sheer exhaustion hits me too! I haven't been the most compliant person today when it came to my food options - I snuck in 2 timbits (bite size donuts Dr. Mike) today and I had a white veggie pita and I think it had a dressing in it that I shouldn't have had! I didn't pack my lunch and resulted in eating out today. For dinner I reserved myself to only having a cabbage veggie soup and an earl gray tea. No snacks for me tonight!
Paul is doing really awesome. I am packing his lunches and he has completely avoided the late night munchies too. That used to be his downfall! I think we really need to get him into some new pants real soon!
The ones he owns are falling off of him! Not even his belt will hold them up! Lol......he really has embraced this challenge without even asking for it.
Feb. 24 & 25
Saturday
Our family went shopping for groceries today at Costco or better known as the 300 club! I couldn't believe how many good choices there were!! We restocked on a lot of fish and chicken! They even have frozen tilapia or sole individually packed - great for 1 person meal options without having any go to waste! I even found an awesome crisp bread - Ryevita - low fat, low sugar, high fiber and lots of whole grains. Speaking of grains - I do have a nutritional question. I am starting to get confused with regards to reading the labels around grains. Jen or Dr. Roizen, I am reading labels that identify the whole wheat in different ways ie. Unbleached, untreated, durum, enriched....Can you help clarify what type of whole wheat is in its pure state?
Steps: 13,255
Video: Yes
Sunday
I made an awesome salad and I think I am addicted to it (had it for lunch and dinner) - it is a bean salad chock full of kidney beans, chickpeas, parsley, green beans, red peppers, salt, pepper, olive oil and white balsamic vinegar. Add a couple of Ryevita crisp breads and a banana for dessert and you are truly full for a long time! I couldn't finish my meal - a lot of fibre and protein that's for sure!!!
Paul and I had some fun with the video workout today. We worked on it together and we were pushing each other to go the extra mile and slip in an extra sit up or do an extra count with the planks! The treadmill is still going strong and the pedometer is never at rest and neither are we!
February 23:
Here is my blog for the day! I just got home from my week long conference and I have to admit I was extremely anxious to step on the scale today. So here are the highly anticipated results:
- Caroline
- Waist : 32"
- Weight: 163.5 pounds
- Paul
- Waist: 49"
- Weight: 321 pounds
I survived my most challenging week so far!! I avoided the desserts and always asked for a cup of fresh fruit or berries for dessert. The walnuts saved me from being tempted by the scones, tarts and other baked goods during the coffee breaks and I found a lot of salad, mixed veggies and lean meats to eat during the lunches and dinners!! I have to thank everyone at the meetings for all your support, your compliments and words of encouragement - Being away from home meant I would be away from my support system (hubby and rest of family) so the people I worked with this week became my newly adopted support team!! And all of you were awesome!! Thank you!! You all know who you are!! I couldn't have survived this week without you cheering me on!! I also have to take a moment to thank my mom this week...she became our rock this week while I was away and became Paul's new support member during my absence as well!! She made sure Paul was eating healthy this week too. Tami and Suzanne - keep up the great work! I am just now catching up with your blogs and I want to congratulate you both on your hard work!! Keep it up!
February 21
So I survived the dinner last night...Chicken and salmon were on the menu last night and I asked the chef if he could make the chicken without the saffron cream and it was amazing to see the restaurant accommodate me and help me make better choices.
What has been even more amazing, is that my colleagues have been very supportive here. After our dinner, we decided to walk back to the hotel instead of taking the bus. We even changed into our workout clothes after dinner and took a 40 min walk around the downtown core - it was an amazingly warmer night than usual so we took advantage of the warmer weather and got out to enjoy some fresh air. Walking with your friends really makes the time exercising go by quickly - we had a blast - laughing and power walking! Having a walking group really ensures your commitment to getting in the 10,000 steps and best of all - its a great opportunity to catch up with friends and share a laugh or two!!
Gotta go...have to ramp up my steps...I am sitting at only 3,345 steps for the day and its already 5:30pm!
February 20
I am survivng the conference. I am trying the best I can to look for great food chocie - fish, salad, chicken and fruit. I brought along my own oatmeal for breakfast and I've found a way to add some banana or some strawberries to make the meal more robust. I have my bag of walnuts and I even found a great whole grain cracker that was portable for snacks! Also, lots of water and alot of walking.
I am walking at least 4,000 steps throughout the day (the location of the conference is huge and requires alot of walking from one workshop to another). I am then hitting the gym in the evening and making up the last steps for the day!! I have to giggle when I've gotten comments from others such as " Haven't seen you in a long time - you look great! Different!" or I have even heard " You're shrinking!" I love it! Thanks to all who have noiced the changes - it helps to continue reinforcing my efforts in making sure the changes I have already made continue to be the norm for the rest of my life!!
Gotta go - dinner is calling...hope the restaurant can accomodate my request for chicken and salad...if not...then I'll have to make an extra effort at the gym tonight!! Cheers!
February 19
I am anticipating my biggest challenge since starting the YOU diet!! I am attending a week-long conference and I will have no control over the types of food available for me. Typically these meetings have a great variety of options (buffet style) but there will be no labels to read so I am left to do the best I can this week. I do have an action plan. I have packed along some apples and walnuts for the midmorning and mid afternoon breaks. I am hoping the wait staff can make egg white omelets for the mornings and typically at the lunch hour there is always a salad and a lean meat offered among the variety of food at the lunch buffet tables. Dinners will be challenging.....I will keep you all posted on my progress throughout the week. Due to time constraints I will blog on Wednesday and on Friday this week. I have also brought along my mat, the YOU video workout (I plan to play the video on my laptop in the hotel room) and my workout clothes in order to hit the gym whenever I can - even if it means a quick jog at 11pm!! I will make sure I get the 10,000 a day (I think aside from the food challenge this will be another big challenge as we will be in workshops all day) Stay well to everyone and wish me luck!!
February 18
Saturday - I went shopping for some new clothes - I am attending a business conference next week and really needed some new clothes. I am noticing that my current clothes are not fitting too well. So I shocked myself! I would normally wear a large in tops and this time I am wearing medium sized tops. The pants I own are not looking too great - even adding another hole to the belt still made the pants look baggy and unpolished. I would normally wear a 14 - this time I am trying on size 10/12 pants! I even bought a size 10 skirt!!!!! I can't remember the last time I wore a size 10!! If only you could have seen me do my happy dance in the mall!!! Lol......
Sunday - The bridal shower.....how did I survive? I wore my size 10 skirt today and having it on me all day reminded me of what it has taken to get to this point and how much more work I still need to accomplish in my journey. That vision alone stopped all temptation. I think the size 10 is more than a number right now for me - it is a reflection of my journey and I am really happy that it has a deeper meaning than just being a size label inside the skirt. What an adrenaline rush! The bride to be looked beautiful and the food looked amazing and I got some great ideas for my sister's upcoming wedding shower. Again, the weight loss has brought on not only a physical transformation of who I am but my inner self has changed too. I used to feel like I was observing life and now I enjoy being a full participate in all of life's events!! No matter how small or large the event may be!
Steps for the weekend:
Sat 13,456
Sun 11, 312
Video workout: Yes
February 16
Another weigh in day. here are the results:
Caroline: Paul
Waist: 32"
Weight: 165.5
Paul
Waist: 50"
Weight: 325
We are definitely slowing down and keeping it steady - as per Dr. Roizen's request and we are very happy with our results and accomplishments. I sent a picture of myself to a friend recently - one of myself before I started the YOU diet and one of myself just 4 weeks after starting the diet - she was shocked at how different I looked - in fact - I think I shocked myself!! I can't wait to see what another 4 weeks will bring me!! And then another 4 weeks, and then another 4 weeks and then when I reach my goal I'll have a lifetime to maintain it - a journey I'm willing to accept!
It truly is one day at a time...there are ups and downs each day....but knowing the YOU-turns and getting back on plan quickly ensures success....try it everyone...YOU will impress yourselves too!!
February 15
This coming weekend will be a bit of a challenge. On Sunday I am attending a Bridal shower - no shortage of food and great desserts!! I do have a plan - I plan to eat before I go and that way I can hopefully avoid any temptations because I'll feel full and I'll just have to completely turn a blind eye to the dessert table - no take home trays for me!!
Today was a busy day....just in steps alone (I haven't hit the treadmill yet) and I clocked in 6800 steps! I have to admit, my job allows me to be active - even though I am driving, I am also running in and out of my car and I also take the stairs whenever I can. I plan to hit the treadmill this evening and I am aiming at getting at least 11,000 steps today. Lunch was great - ordered a chicken breast with grilled veggies from a local restaurant. I am finding better options while I am eating out and making those healthy decisions are a lot easier now!
Tomorrow is weigh in day...I did take a peak (on the scale) earlier this week and I think I may come in with little to no change. As Dr. Roizen puts it - we should be seeing slow and steady weight loss - I think I am starting to see that - and no discouragement from me!! I am feeling better than I have in a long time so I am not fixating on the scale - it then becomes a numbers game - and it's a game I don't want to play!
February 14
Happy Valentine's Day to all!! Since February is considered heart month, it is also comforting to know that Paul and I have been doing the YOU diet and taking care of our hearts and health - probably the best Valentine's gift we have given to each other in a long time!! I was packing Paul's lunch today, and for a Valentine treat, I made strawberries, topped with probiotic vanilla yogurt sprinkled with chopped walnuts and one square of dark chocolate (70% cocoa) - I also plan to have this dessert later on today!
We are both feeling better and getting back to increasing our steps. Since our snow day, I may have to crank up the treadmill in order to get the 10,000 steps today... just a small adjustment to the day!
YOU can do it - keep up the great work everyone and to the recent viewer, Pat Stewart - I have a secret endeavor to one day run a 5k run (I have been wanting to do this for over a year). Thanks for your encouragement and I may get there soon enough! As Dr. Roizen puts it...slow and steady!!
February 13
Today I'm feeling a bit better and it was a real challenge at work today. I have been around a lot of valentine treats - cookies and chocolates and I have to admit, I gave into the temptation - maybe because I am still not feeling 100% and the comfort food felt really inviting especially since I was exposed to it all day!!
Last night I still pushed myself to hit the treadmill. I was short of the 10,000 for the day, but I came in at a close 8000. My son really wanted to exercise with me and dragged out the mat and asked me to put on the video. I really was not in the mood to do my strength training, but I thought if I went light on the exercise, it would still help me keep within my rhythm of routine and I still spent quality time with my 3 year old who was overly anxious to do sit ups with me!!
For lunch today I enjoyed a veggie and chicken wrap on whole wheat pasta - the meal came with rice. In the past I would have polished off the whole thing, but lately I am finding myself feeling full faster on smaller portions of food! Tonight I plan on having my chicken noodle soup and I will take Dr. Roizen's advice - lots of water! Or better yet Chamomile tea for a night cap!
February 12
I am now under the weather - compliments of my husband. I made more home-made chicken soup and this will be our staple for the next couple of days. I added lots of veggies and found a brown rice noodle to give the soup some substance but went easy on the salt. We are anticipating a snow storm in the next coming day so the soup will come in handy. Since I am not feeling well, I'm not sure if I can guarantee the 10,000 steps today. Just looking at the treadmill right now makes my muscles ache even more right now...it will be a challenge today...when I feel under the weather I do crave comfort food...so to see how I can avoid the cookies and crackers will be a test....hey hold on...I forgot...I have no cookies and crackers in the house - Dr. Roizen threw them away!!
February 11
I had a relaxing weekend spending time with my family. (Paul was not feeling well this weekend - he came down with the flu). We invited my in-laws over for dinner and I decided to make pork tenderloin, with grilled veggies, salad and wild rice patties. This was the first time I made these patties and they were an absolute hit (Paul only ate soup all weekend - poor guy). In case anyone is interested in the recipe here it is: Combine cooked chilled wild rice with cooked chilled brown rice. Add a couple of beaten eggs with salt pepper coriander and whole wheat flour. Form into patties and bake in the oven for 20 min. They look and taste fantastic. For dessert, I served a fruit platter.
I have to admit, I snuck in a piece of chocolate. My daughter was writing her Valentine's Day cards for her friends and we were attaching chocolate hearts to the cards when I fell to the temptation of having a small piece of chocolate - otherwise I behaved myself all weekend. Paul was challenged in getting the steps in this weekend because he was under the weather and I was able to log in about 12,000 steps for Saturday and Sunday.
February 9
Friday and another weigh in day....Are you ready for this? Here are the results!
Caroline
Weight: 166
Waist: 32"
Paul
Weight: 334
Waist: 50"
Paul and I were just talking last night and we realized that before we started the YOU diet, we were somewhat unhappy people. With the changes we have made, we find ourselves happier with ourselves and much happier with each other. We are at the halfway mark of this contest, and the one way I can sum it up so far is " We used to live to eat, now we eat to live!" Our lives now are full of activity, full of fun and we are feeling so much better. This journey so far has been inspiring and rewarding. I think I'm having a YOU-reka moment Dr. Roizen!!
We are doing more than we ever did before and this feeling alone gives us the drive to challenge ourselves to do the extra steps in a day or to do an extra sit up from the video workout. We are each delivering over 10,000 steps a day and we are finding ourselves competing to see who can bring in the larger number at the end of the day. We may have lost some weight, but Paul and I regained our spirits back and it is this spark that helps us to continue on with this journey of transformation. Have a great weekend everyone and don't forget to walk 30 min a day!!
Weigh to go Tami and Suzanne!
February 8
So last night I decided to make Thursday's dinner in advance in order to help save some time. I needed to deviate from our usual chicken and brown rice meal and really wanted to make spaghetti - the healthy version.
I went out and bought extra lean ground turkey and came home thinking I had all the other ingredients. I could not find a spaghetti sauce in the grocery store that was suitable ( too high in fat or too high in the sugar content) so I decide to make my own sauce. Thought for sure I had a can of diced tomatoes in my pantry only to soon discover I only had a jar of salsa instead. So I thought, why not Mexican-Italian Fusion? I sautéed onions in olive oil and added the ground turkey. Then I added the salsa with some tomato paste. I added more raw veggies to thicken the sauce and then near the end of the cooking added some real basil and oregano and presto - a spicy Spaghetti sauce - ole!!! So tonight I will be preparing some multigrain spaghetti noodles with my new sauce with a side garden salad.
The pedometer is still clicking away and I am now trying to challenge myself by trying to aim for 11,000-13,000 steps a day. Some days are easier than others and if I fall short of this stretch goal at least I am still clocking 10,000 steps a day.
February 7
Hump Day - I agree with Tami- the cold is so inviting to stay inside , just relax on the couch and curl up with a good book , but instead, today after work I gathered the kids, we turned off the tube and cranked up the tunes. We were dancing in the house for a good hour to our favorite Canadian band, See Spot Run and we were all having a blast especially listening to their song "weightless" - how ironic! I am so energized and it feels so great to have the ability to spend more quality time with your family! Even the kids are calmer!! Since the kids are eating healthier, I find they are sleeping better and more alert throughout the day with little to no dramatic mood swings - a welcome to any mother!! (maybe its because their sugar intake has been depleted)
Also got in a treadmill workout in the morning and I am planning on completing the video workout this evening. My kids always roll up their sleeves, pull out their mats and join me in the video workout - they love it too! It's so cute watching a 3 year old and a 6 year old trying to do push ups! LOL....
In light of the cold weather, I had a warm cabbage soup loaded with lots veggies and brown rice noodles for dinner today- compliments from my mother in law! Thanks mom! The soup is definitely a great staple to get through the cold days and nights and it works great to help me stick to the plan!!
Keep up the great work Tami (Jim) and Suzanne!
February 6
I am feeling fantastic! I am so happy with our progress so far. When I open our fridge now we see lots of colors - red peppers, green lettuce, yellow pears, purple onions...it really is inviting to see your fridge brighten your day every time you open it! Speaking of food, I have a question for Jennifer...I know Canola oil is probably a good choice of cooking oils. I have been using sunflower oil. Is this oil acceptable? Also, do you have a good recipe for us that would be a healthy choice but also great for entertaining guests? Yes - we have another dinner party on Saturday.
I also find working out is so automatic for us. I use to dread even having the idea of needing to get on the treadmill but I now find myself wanting to go on the treadmill - there is a new found passion and commitment for working out. I find myself feeling so much better and really energized after a great sweaty workout!
February 5
It is so awesome to get the viewers support and comments - thank you to all who have written to us! And a big congrats on your weight losses as well! I hope you are all doing the "happy dance" like Paul and I are!
Since I am on the road daily, I find I need to pack my meals for the day. For the last 3 weeks I have avoided any take out food including the fast food salads (except for the recent Chinese food on Saturday ) This is what a typical work day menu would look like and the below mentioned is very portable:
Morning: egg white omelet with veggies
Snack: Apple with 6 walnuts
Lunch: spring green salad with with chicken breast or whole wheat pasta salad with chicken breast
Snack: orange with almonds
Dinner: varies day to day
I would agree with Dr. Roizen - keeping 2/3 meals the same every day helps you from deviating from the plan. I have to admit, there is a small element of boredom (sometimes) with the breakfast and lunch options but I look forward to the variety at dinner time. I have to admit I have encountered times where I could not eat my homemade lunch and have eaten at a restaurant. Knowing this in advance, I would always go online and examine the restaurants menu and make my decision before I get to the restaurant in order to avoid impulsive and poor decision making.
Planning, teamwork and execution - sounds like a business proposal? yes and I think the same could apply when we manage our health ( we owe it to ourselves) - plan your meals, work with a team (a partner for support - I have my husband, Tami and Suzanne) and execute the plan - 30 min exercise and eat the right foods -The YOU on a Diet plan is really quite simple.
Steps: 11,154 as of 4:30pm
Video workout: Yes
February 4
Okay, everyone....here's the good, the bad and the ugly of our weekend. I will start with the bad. Due to the extreme cold Canadian winter (-27 with wind-chill), we could not barbeque so we did not have our anticipated steak dinner. And because we did not have a back up plan, our bad turned into the ugly....we ordered Chinese food. We did our best to sticking with the good choices like Beef and Broccoli and mixed Chinese vegetables but we also had the rice (not brown) and I'm sure the choices we had were also high in sodium.
The good news is on Sunday we were able to go back to the plan and stay committed. Even despite the fact that is was Super bowl Sunday, we still found a way to avoid all temptations that a super bowl game might bring. Paul and I found ourselves eating Chicken breast with brown rice and salad. No munchies and no beer. Just almonds, popcorn and water for the game. It's amazing how your body adjusts to the types of food you eat. When we ate the Chinese food we felt horrible (physically) and as soon as we went back to eating the healthier options, we felt better again.
We definitely got in the 10,000 steps and we even found ourselves slipping in an extra video workout
February 2nd
Another big day! We were so excited to step on a scale today - so here we go - the waist and weight measurements:
Caroline
Weight: 166.9
Waist: 33"
Paul
Weight: 340
Waist: 51"
Wow! Since starting the program I have lost a total of 7.1 pounds and Paul has lost an amazing 17 pounds!! I have heard that men have an easier time at dropping the weight. Way to go Paul! He says he is feeling great and he even went so far as to dig out his old hockey equipment and he is planning to play hockey with the boys tonight - something he hasn't done in the last 2 years!!
Thanks for the advice Dr. Roizen. We are having dinner with my sister and her fiancé on Saturday and we would like to have a small steak for dinner - a treat for being successful so far! We promise to keep the portion to only 4 oz! Well, gotta go - need to keep the pedometer running and the legs moving! Stay tuned for our weekend progress on Monday.
February 1st
When I was getting ready for work this morning, I noticed my clothes were fitting differently today. I don't think I'm quite ready to go out and buy a new wardrobe quite yet, but I am seeing a difference in how my current wardrobe is fitting - looser and more comfortable! This means only one thing though, weight loss= new clothes! Yah! This is coming from a girl who loves to shop!
By 6 pm today, I had already logged in 10, 302 steps. I got in my treadmill workout this morning and I have to complete the YOU workout video this evening. For dinner I made a great pasta dish - sautéed onions in olive oil with tomatoes and mushrooms. Add some pieces of grilled chicken breast and add the whole wheat pasta. Sprinkle with basil seasoning and - presto! An awesome dish - even my kids couldn't get enough of the dish - truly a kid friendly dinner!!
Paul is doing well and has been consistent with logging in the 10,000 steps daily. He has commented how it is getting easier. We are wondering though , if we can have a small steak this weekend? So far we have been eating chicken and fish and we are curious to know if we can add a red meat, lean pork or veal to our selection of dinner choices in order to broaden the interest in our foods? Please help Dr. Roizen and Jennifer!
January 30
To answer Dr. Roizen's questions about the popcorn - we add nothing else to the popcorn other than our favorite all dressed or sour cream and onion popcorn seasoning you find the grocery stores. We are finding seasoning on all our new food options really awake the senses and make the new foods taste awesome! Paul also invested in a new pair of running shoes - one pair he keeps at home by the treadmill and the other pair remains at work for his daily walks - that way he can guarantee he gets in the total 10,000 steps a day! A small adjustment but a big pay off!
Things are getting easier - I find we are in a groove and in a routine with our new lifestyle. We have the same breakfast and snacks almost everyday. Our dinner selection does vary from day to day. Paul and I work different times of the day so we never find ourselves having dinner together. Planning is essential and now the planning process is almost automatic for us - no extra effort. I need to workout on the treadmill tonight. I usually get up and work the treadmill at 5:30 am but today I slept in till 6:30 am so I need to make up for lost time this evening. I am already at 7900 steps for the day with a treadmill waiting to help crank up the pedometer in order to reach my goal. A secret to increasing the steps? - take the stairs instead of the elevator!
January 29
I just got home from a very busy day and I've already logged in 10, 553 steps for the day! The kids and I ran around in the basement and had some fun playing indoor soccer and before I knew it I am well over the required amount of steps so think I am going to bypass the treadmill tonight.
I still have to complete the YOU video workout tonight. I found it easy to get back on track after a not so great weekend - at least when your at work you don't have the time to think about food. I find that boredom at home can be an evil to overeating or least munching on the bad things!
I went out for lunch today and had salmon with grilled vegetables. For dinner it will be stone rye bread with sauerkraut (one of my favorites). Every other night I treat myself to a snack before 8:30pm (I won't eat anything after 8:30pm) So this past weekend I purchased an air popper for popping corn - it's great - I find the popcorn tastes much better than the alternatives! Looking forward to having some popcorn tonight!
To date:
Weight: 167.8
Waist: 34"
January 28
How the weekend comes and goes so quickly! Paul did not end up going to his business function on Friday due to a winter storm so he was spared the exposure of fast food! We had our planned meals of chicken and fish and we also took Dr. Roizen's advice in making an avocado and salsa dip - great snack for veggies and pita bread! This was our Saturday night treat!!
Getting in the steps was a bit of a challenge for me on Sunday. After we took the kids swimming, I promised my daughter a mother/daughter outing to the movies in the afternoon. I logged in only half the 10,000 steps on Sunday and I didn't get a chance to workout on the treadmill. I'm hoping to hit the machine later in the evening on Sunday. Hoping to get back into my routine over the course of the week!
January 26
Look out! It's another "happy dance" day today!! Today is waist and weight measurement day and here are the results:
Waist measurement: 34.5" (down ½ inch from last week)
Weight: 168.2 (down 3 pounds from last week)
Paul is down 3 pounds and 1 inch from last week! We are really amazed at how the weight is slowly coming off and yet we find ourselves eating a lot of food and never really going hungry! (except for the occasionally cravings for junk food).
We are heading into yet another weekend. We feel better armed at handling the weekends and I have already planned and partially prepared our weekend meals (in order to help us avoid the temptations of ordering in this weekend - in the past we typically would have ordered a pizza on Saturday night). Instead we have some chicken dishes prepared and I found a great recipe for a great fish dish on Sunday. I am discovering that planning ahead can really help curb the temptations of going out or ordering in for the sake of convenience.
Paul is facing a big challenge tonight. Paul has a business function this evening where there will be an abundance of fast food. I have a lot of faith that he can overcome the temptations! The pedometers are ticking away and the treadmill is functioning well - stay tuned for our weekend update on Monday!
January 25
I thought I would enter today's blog as a reflective one. I've now had the chance to look back at almost two weeks of sweat and tears and I can honestly say how proud I am of both myself and Paul for surviving what probably has been a gruelling two weeks. Our lives went into overdrive and we really felt the changes. Was it easy? No - not initially....is it getting easier...absolutely YES!!!! We are embracing the changes! We are seeing the results and I look forward to reporting our weight and waist measurements tomorrow!
It's amazing how in the past, I had no problems waiting sometimes as along as 30 min at a coffee shop line up for a medium double double and you would never have found me complaining about how long the line up was or how long it took to get the coffee. But in the past, if you had asked me to find 30 min to workout on a treadmill, I would have found an excuse and wouldn't have been afraid to pull out all the stops! How things have changes in only 2 weeks!
Paul and I are working together at being consistent in following the rules of reading labels. We are trying to ensure adjustments are made throughout the day in order to reach our 10, 000 steps and we are now finding ourselves restocking our fridge with better food options ! Are we working harder, you ask? No. It may look like it but instead we just feel like we are working smarter at managing our new lifestyle.
Today, I have logged in 11, 456 steps so far and Paul is over halfway there!
January 24
I was reading the viewers comments today and really want to say thank you to all - and a congrats to Ang from Morden, MB. Good for you !! I understand how hard it can be with young children and I am also cheering you on and all the others who have joined us on this adventure to losing weight and living healthy!
I was in my pantry last night looking for some "munchies" and I chuckled because since I cleaned out my pantry, I found nothing to eat (when I say nothing, I mean no junk food) so I closed the door and decided to drink a glass of water instead and eat a couple of almonds. I get fooled by whether I am really hungry or just really thirsty. It's a good thing Dr. Roizen invaded my home....otherwise, I think I would have had a setback last night!
I was at the grocery store buying some probiotic yogurt today when I felt tempted to ditch the yogurt and grab a candy bar at the cashiers checkout! I feel like I have been in control until recently (the last 24 hours) - the craving for "junk" is setting in.....Just in case you're wondering ..... I only purchased the yogurt.
Today my lunch consisted of a turkey sandwich with lots of veggies on 100% whole wheat bread with mustard and dinner will be Thai chicken Stir Fry (chicken with veggies on brown rice) and I may have to grab 1 oz of dark chocolate for dessert in order to fulfill my craving! Also had my nuts and fruit to balance out the day!
Caroline's summary:
Treadmill: 30 min, 2 % incline, speed 3.0 ( I promise not to overdo it Dr. Roizen)
Pedometer: 9956 at midday
Video workout: yes
Paul's summary:
Treadmill: no treadmill, 1hour walk at work
Pedometer: 6800 at midday
Video Workout: yes
January 23
I may have been pushing the envelope with the treadmill amount but Paul is more inline with the time and total steps - he is sticking to the 30 min rule and getting in 10,000 steps a day! I'm finding I have the energy and stamina to go the extra mile so I am trying to go to 60 min a day at a steady speed.
This morning we made another egg white omelet (can you tell this is one of our favourite recipes - easy and fast!) add in a banana for the car ride into work and don't forget the coffee (with 1% milk no sugar) and we were good to go! Even the kids eat egg whites with whole wheat toast!
I did the video workout that Dr. Roizen left for us, and I've started to use the intermediate level. At first, it was very difficult just for the balance alone, but last night I found it a lot easier and I was surprised at how much better my balance was and how many more reps I was able to do throughout the workout!
Another thing that has surprised me lately - in the past, you would have found me fallen asleep with the kids with just sheer exhaustion from the day by 9 pm. But recently I am still up and feeling very alert and awake by 12 midnight and when I get up at 5:30am I feel completely rested and ready to go the distance! It's amazing how in just one week your energy level improves immensely!
Caroline:
Treadmill Summary: 60 min, 2% incline, 3.4 speed
Pedometer: 10113 as of 5pm
Video workout: No
Paul:
Treadmill summary: 30 min, 2 % incline, 2.6 speed
Pedometer: 6800
Video workout: No
January 22
Surviving the weekend was really not that bad! Keeping yourself busy was the key to being successful this weekend. Sitting around and doing very little could have caused an invasion of the fridge. So I opted to working out more and getting out of the house in order to keep myself active and to keep my head out of the fridge!
Paul and I are doing great so far! Paul has logged 22,000 steps for the entire weekend. At around 1pm today he told me he was already at 6,000 steps. He told me he took his running shoes to work along with his ipod and plans take a walk at work on his dinner break tonight!
Yes, I still eat out of my car, but this time , I brought along a warm lunch ( sauerkraut with extra lean ground beef with a small whole wheat pita) and avoided all temptations of purchasing my lunch from a corner restaurant chain!
Earlier this morning, I decided to eat oatmeal with a banana and added a protein shake to the breakfast meal today and found that I wasn't hungry until 1pm! I even found myself not so hungry when I decided to finally eat my lunch! Typically in the past, I would be starving by the time 10am rolled around! Adding the extra fibre really does help stave off the hunger pangs!
Tonight is video workout night and I plan to have fish for dinner tonight - my favorite - tilapia with sauteed broccoli.
Treadmill Summary: 60 min, 2% incline, 3.0 speed
Video Workout: yes
Pedometer: 10566
January 21
We took the kids to their swimming classes and then went off to my moms for a Sunday afternoon lunch/dinner. For those are who are wondering what my daily food intake looks like then here is Sunday's sample:
Breakfast: Bran Cereal with 1% milk with fruit (ie banana)
Mid Morning: 6 walnuts and an apple
Lunch: Salad with Olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette, 4 oz of chicken and 100% whole wheat pasta (1/3 cup)
Dessert: 2 tangerines and 1 oz dark chocolate cocoa 70%
Mid afternoon: 6 almonds
Dinner: 3 tablespoons of hummus, 1 med 100% whole grain pita bread - carrot sticks and cucumbers raw - 2 slices turkey
Evening: 2 cups of popcorn (not the microwave type - take1/3 cup of raw popping kernels and place in corningware container with lid in microwave for about 5 min - top with any spice- taste soooo much better than the bagged microwave popcorn - and no hydrogenated oils)
Treadmill Summary: 60 min, 3%incline, 3.3 speed
Video Workout: No
Pedometer reading: 10,963
January 20
I thought I would increase my treadmill workout, anticipating a not so active day on Saturday. However, my sister called and asked if I could join her in our search for the bridesmaid dresses for her upcoming wedding. So I gathered the kids and we were out most of the afternoon. So I was able to clock more than the 10,000 steps for the day! It felt great!
My sister-in-law's party was a great time and we had some great food options - veggies, fruit, 100% whole wheat crackers and pita (minus the dips of course). We also treated ourselves to a glass of red wine last (I think one glass is allowable - right Dr. Roizen? Read YOU on a diet for the details). Paul and I decided to have dinner before we went out to the party in order to curb our temptations for snacking late at the party.
Paul made dinner - for those of you who know Paul - this was a first! Paul's expertise in culinary skills is his famous steaks on the BBQ and that's it. So Saturday, he made an awesome egg white omelet loaded up with lots of veggies and spiced it just right. Add a spring green salad with olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette and our dinner was complete! I am really proud of Paul for getting involved in not only watching what we eat but also taking control of what we eat by cooking our meals too! Way to go Paul!
Friday pedometer: 7700
Saturday Treadmill Summary: 70 min, 2% incline, 3.0 speed
Video Workout: No
Pedometer total: 14,573
January 19
I survived the dinner last night! In fact, come to think of it, I survived the first week! Going out to dinner was easier than I thought. I found the Mahi Mahi on the menu and asked if the chef could grill it in olive oil and lemon. The restaurant gave no complaints with my request and they were very accommodating! I have to admit this morning's workout on the treadmill and video workout were difficult. I feel so tired from a long week and I felt I could barely get through the 30 min! But I hung in there and remained true!
So today is a big day - the weigh in and waist measurement! I am in complete shock. In one short week, we have seen great changes in our numbers! Are you ready for this?
Waist measurement: 35" (down an inch!)
Weight: 171.1 (down 3 pounds!)
(Paul is down 4 pounds and 1 inch off his waist). Sorry, I forgot to add Paul's pedometer readings for Thursday: 8895
If only you can see us do our "happy dance" right now! But now we're facing another challenge - getting through the WEEKEND!!! This means constantly being around the kitchen! We also have a dinner party to go to Saturday night at my sister-in-laws! I must say, my sister in law has been very supportive and has assured us that we will not have to worry about the food options at the party! Thanks Eva! The support we are receiving from our family and friends is a critical component to our success so far! For example they will call to see what they can make for dinner for us if we are heading over to their place, or they may just call or email us and pat us on the back and give us some words of encouragement! Thanks everyone!!
We'll I guess its one step at a time - or should I say 10,000 steps a day! Paul and I are hanging in there! Wish us luck for the weekend!
Caroline's treadmill summary: 30 min, 2% incline, 3.5 speed
Video Workout: Yes
Tami - have fun in Cuba!
Suzanne - good luck over the weekend!
P.S. I'll have to report today's pedometer steps after the weekend....I will be away today on a business meeting!
January 18
Last night, Paul and I felt the 'tug' and 'need' for something "crunchy". But because we agreed to help each other out, together we came up with a solution to help us deviate from the usual choices which in the past could have been the potato chips.
We took Dr. Roizen's advice and toasted asparagus with some olive oil in the oven and then sprinkled some sea salt on them. They were fantastic! And crunchy too but without the saturated fats and calories! And we felt satisfied! What I did find challenging these last 24 hours was trying to plan out our meals for the next couple of days.
With very young , active children, and a busy schedule, thinking about one more thing like planning your meals can be overwhelming. So I'm trying to make things as easy as possible. I ended up baking some seasoned chicken breast in the oven. I will be storing the chicken in the fridge and using them for our lunches - chicken and baby green salad with olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette - topped with some sliced almonds! EASY! I have to admit I still eat in the car but this time it is out of a tupperware container from home (containing a home cooked meal) and NOT out of a paper bag from a fast food restaurant!
Now tonight will be a bit of a challenge for me. I am heading out to dinner with some friends from work! I know the bread won't be whole wheat and there will be butter tempting me at the table ! AHHHH! The perils of eating out. I do have a plan though.
The people I work with are very supportive of this challenge so I know they will be there to encourage me to stick to the plan! I'm also more aware of what to eat so looking for those better choices on the menu will be easier! Wish me luck! Let's see how well I can do!
Suzanne and Tami - It is great to read your blogs and share in your challenges and successes! I am cheering you both on!!!
Pedometer reading: 8545
Treadmill summary: 40 min, 3% incline
Video workout: no
January 17
My husband and I finished the task of throwing out the bad groceries and when all was said and done, I took a look at my kitchen and was amazed at how empty my fridge, shelves and pantry were. It was now time to go shopping! I gathered the kids this afternoon after work and thought it would be a great idea to also educate them about making healthy choices when it came to purchasing food. At ages 3 and 6, I would really like to see them start developing a healthy lifestyle. Paul and I owe this to them! We went to the grocery store and started to buy things like, whole wheat pita bread, asparagus, brown rice, sweet potatoes, strawberries, fish, chicken etc. and it was amazing to see how my kids asked me with each item I placed in the cart, "Mommy, is that healthy?" The new word in our house is "Healthy". Since it is important to be active in our lives and since Paul and I have now taken the initiative to incorporate exercise into our lives, we felt it was also important to get our kids active as well. They are now enrolled in swimming classes.
Today for dinner, I decided to make salmon, brown rice and salad. My kids are not the biggest fans of brown rice. They've always loved their white rice. Well since the white rice no longer exists in my house, I proceeded to make the brown rice and I held my breath as I watched the kids take their first bite of brown rice. I observed carefully anticipating the worst reaction from them but in complete and utter shock, the kids ate everything. In fact, my daughter who is a huge white rice lover said to me, "Mommy, this rice is great! It's better than the other rice you normally make." What an utter surprise!
I am looking at my pedometer and I have logged a total of 9180 steps today! I hit the treadmill this morning and plan to use Dr. Roizen's workout video every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. So tonight is video workout! Being on the plan today has really been very painless and I feel very extremely energized!
January 16
We just finished meeting with Dr. Roizen today and to sum it up? WOW!!!!!! I never realized how important it is to read the labels and ingredients. I am extremely surprised by what you think is healthy food, in fact, is just full of sugar and fat!
Dr. Roizen was amazing in helping us throw out the bad stuff...including my favorite crackers!! It was hard to depart from my favorite comfort food, but with the knowledge I gained today, I know that eating healthy will far 'outweigh' the benefit of having my crackers around!
My husband is also joining me on the battle of the blubber and as a team we are determined to make these changes our new lifestyle! I am so emotional with regards to having Paul join me. It means the world to me that he is doing this. I don't feel alone and I always knew he needed to do something about his weight and I'm glad that this platform gave him the springboard to finally commit. We have sooo much to look forward to.
We now have the tools to be successful: a healthy kitchen, a pedometer, an exercise program, Dr. Roizen and his staff and my husband and I have each other to support and push each other along the way!
I look forward to sharing our new adventure with all of you!
January 15
Today is day one of my new adventure. Am I nervous? YES! But I am also very excited and ready to make the changes 'real'. I am looking forward to 'staging' these new changes into my days to come. The treadmill has had its tune up and I am looking forward to meeting with Dr. Roizen. The transformation of my kitchen into a "Healthy" kitchen is welcomed and I can't wait to begin this challenge! Bring it on!
If you have questions or comments for our winners, or if you just want to cheer them on, please email hsherman@ctv.ca
For lunch today I opted to having a veggie sandwich on whole wheat bread. My mom has delighted me with an awsome Croatian dish for dinner - bean stew or otherwise known as Mahone. I remember eating this growing up as a child and I did not enjoy it at all and now at 35 I have this meal as a staple to our diet! And lovin' it too! I simple soup with lots of green/yellow string beans and barley!
I am really feeling for my husband - he desperately needs to go out and buy new pants - he even had a few comments from his fellow colleagues! Paul - go buy the pants!! What are you waiting for?! I can't wait to see you in some new slimmer looking clothes! By the end of this I may not even recognize my husband!! I feel like I'm falling in love with him all over again!! It's great!
Feb. 27
What a crazy day today! Busy and on the go! I feel like I haven't stopped and I've already clocked in 8108 steps for the day without a cardio workout! Just got the kids ready for bed and I am quickly writing my blog before I hit the treadmill and before sheer exhaustion hits me too! I haven't been the most compliant person today when it came to my food options - I snuck in 2 timbits (bite size donuts Dr. Mike) today and I had a white veggie pita and I think it had a dressing in it that I shouldn't have had! I didn't pack my lunch and resulted in eating out today. For dinner I reserved myself to only having a cabbage veggie soup and an earl gray tea. No snacks for me tonight!
Paul is doing really awesome. I am packing his lunches and he has completely avoided the late night munchies too. That used to be his downfall! I think we really need to get him into some new pants real soon!
The ones he owns are falling off of him! Not even his belt will hold them up! Lol......he really has embraced this challenge without even asking for it.
Feb. 24 & 25
Saturday
Our family went shopping for groceries today at Costco or better known as the 300 club! I couldn't believe how many good choices there were!! We restocked on a lot of fish and chicken! They even have frozen tilapia or sole individually packed - great for 1 person meal options without having any go to waste! I even found an awesome crisp bread - Ryevita - low fat, low sugar, high fiber and lots of whole grains. Speaking of grains - I do have a nutritional question. I am starting to get confused with regards to reading the labels around grains. Jen or Dr. Roizen, I am reading labels that identify the whole wheat in different ways ie. Unbleached, untreated, durum, enriched....Can you help clarify what type of whole wheat is in its pure state?
Steps: 13,255
Video: Yes
Sunday
I made an awesome salad and I think I am addicted to it (had it for lunch and dinner) - it is a bean salad chock full of kidney beans, chickpeas, parsley, green beans, red peppers, salt, pepper, olive oil and white balsamic vinegar. Add a couple of Ryevita crisp breads and a banana for dessert and you are truly full for a long time! I couldn't finish my meal - a lot of fibre and protein that's for sure!!!
Paul and I had some fun with the video workout today. We worked on it together and we were pushing each other to go the extra mile and slip in an extra sit up or do an extra count with the planks! The treadmill is still going strong and the pedometer is never at rest and neither are we!
February 23:
Here is my blog for the day! I just got home from my week long conference and I have to admit I was extremely anxious to step on the scale today. So here are the highly anticipated results:
- Caroline
- Waist : 32"
- Weight: 163.5 pounds
- Paul
- Waist: 49"
- Weight: 321 pounds
I survived my most challenging week so far!! I avoided the desserts and always asked for a cup of fresh fruit or berries for dessert. The walnuts saved me from being tempted by the scones, tarts and other baked goods during the coffee breaks and I found a lot of salad, mixed veggies and lean meats to eat during the lunches and dinners!! I have to thank everyone at the meetings for all your support, your compliments and words of encouragement - Being away from home meant I would be away from my support system (hubby and rest of family) so the people I worked with this week became my newly adopted support team!! And all of you were awesome!! Thank you!! You all know who you are!! I couldn't have survived this week without you cheering me on!! I also have to take a moment to thank my mom this week...she became our rock this week while I was away and became Paul's new support member during my absence as well!! She made sure Paul was eating healthy this week too. Tami and Suzanne - keep up the great work! I am just now catching up with your blogs and I want to congratulate you both on your hard work!! Keep it up!
February 21
So I survived the dinner last night...Chicken and salmon were on the menu last night and I asked the chef if he could make the chicken without the saffron cream and it was amazing to see the restaurant accommodate me and help me make better choices.
What has been even more amazing, is that my colleagues have been very supportive here. After our dinner, we decided to walk back to the hotel instead of taking the bus. We even changed into our workout clothes after dinner and took a 40 min walk around the downtown core - it was an amazingly warmer night than usual so we took advantage of the warmer weather and got out to enjoy some fresh air. Walking with your friends really makes the time exercising go by quickly - we had a blast - laughing and power walking! Having a walking group really ensures your commitment to getting in the 10,000 steps and best of all - its a great opportunity to catch up with friends and share a laugh or two!!
Gotta go...have to ramp up my steps...I am sitting at only 3,345 steps for the day and its already 5:30pm!
February 20
I am survivng the conference. I am trying the best I can to look for great food chocie - fish, salad, chicken and fruit. I brought along my own oatmeal for breakfast and I've found a way to add some banana or some strawberries to make the meal more robust. I have my bag of walnuts and I even found a great whole grain cracker that was portable for snacks! Also, lots of water and alot of walking.
I am walking at least 4,000 steps throughout the day (the location of the conference is huge and requires alot of walking from one workshop to another). I am then hitting the gym in the evening and making up the last steps for the day!! I have to giggle when I've gotten comments from others such as " Haven't seen you in a long time - you look great! Different!" or I have even heard " You're shrinking!" I love it! Thanks to all who have noiced the changes - it helps to continue reinforcing my efforts in making sure the changes I have already made continue to be the norm for the rest of my life!!
Gotta go - dinner is calling...hope the restaurant can accomodate my request for chicken and salad...if not...then I'll have to make an extra effort at the gym tonight!! Cheers!
February 19
I am anticipating my biggest challenge since starting the YOU diet!! I am attending a week-long conference and I will have no control over the types of food available for me. Typically these meetings have a great variety of options (buffet style) but there will be no labels to read so I am left to do the best I can this week. I do have an action plan. I have packed along some apples and walnuts for the midmorning and mid afternoon breaks. I am hoping the wait staff can make egg white omelets for the mornings and typically at the lunch hour there is always a salad and a lean meat offered among the variety of food at the lunch buffet tables. Dinners will be challenging.....I will keep you all posted on my progress throughout the week. Due to time constraints I will blog on Wednesday and on Friday this week. I have also brought along my mat, the YOU video workout (I plan to play the video on my laptop in the hotel room) and my workout clothes in order to hit the gym whenever I can - even if it means a quick jog at 11pm!! I will make sure I get the 10,000 a day (I think aside from the food challenge this will be another big challenge as we will be in workshops all day) Stay well to everyone and wish me luck!!
February 18
Saturday - I went shopping for some new clothes - I am attending a business conference next week and really needed some new clothes. I am noticing that my current clothes are not fitting too well. So I shocked myself! I would normally wear a large in tops and this time I am wearing medium sized tops. The pants I own are not looking too great - even adding another hole to the belt still made the pants look baggy and unpolished. I would normally wear a 14 - this time I am trying on size 10/12 pants! I even bought a size 10 skirt!!!!! I can't remember the last time I wore a size 10!! If only you could have seen me do my happy dance in the mall!!! Lol......
Sunday - The bridal shower.....how did I survive? I wore my size 10 skirt today and having it on me all day reminded me of what it has taken to get to this point and how much more work I still need to accomplish in my journey. That vision alone stopped all temptation. I think the size 10 is more than a number right now for me - it is a reflection of my journey and I am really happy that it has a deeper meaning than just being a size label inside the skirt. What an adrenaline rush! The bride to be looked beautiful and the food looked amazing and I got some great ideas for my sister's upcoming wedding shower. Again, the weight loss has brought on not only a physical transformation of who I am but my inner self has changed too. I used to feel like I was observing life and now I enjoy being a full participate in all of life's events!! No matter how small or large the event may be!
Steps for the weekend:
Sat 13,456
Sun 11, 312
Video workout: Yes
February 16
Another weigh in day. here are the results:
Caroline: Paul
Waist: 32"
Weight: 165.5
Paul
Waist: 50"
Weight: 325
We are definitely slowing down and keeping it steady - as per Dr. Roizen's request and we are very happy with our results and accomplishments. I sent a picture of myself to a friend recently - one of myself before I started the YOU diet and one of myself just 4 weeks after starting the diet - she was shocked at how different I looked - in fact - I think I shocked myself!! I can't wait to see what another 4 weeks will bring me!! And then another 4 weeks, and then another 4 weeks and then when I reach my goal I'll have a lifetime to maintain it - a journey I'm willing to accept!
It truly is one day at a time...there are ups and downs each day....but knowing the YOU-turns and getting back on plan quickly ensures success....try it everyone...YOU will impress yourselves too!!
February 15
This coming weekend will be a bit of a challenge. On Sunday I am attending a Bridal shower - no shortage of food and great desserts!! I do have a plan - I plan to eat before I go and that way I can hopefully avoid any temptations because I'll feel full and I'll just have to completely turn a blind eye to the dessert table - no take home trays for me!!
Today was a busy day....just in steps alone (I haven't hit the treadmill yet) and I clocked in 6800 steps! I have to admit, my job allows me to be active - even though I am driving, I am also running in and out of my car and I also take the stairs whenever I can. I plan to hit the treadmill this evening and I am aiming at getting at least 11,000 steps today. Lunch was great - ordered a chicken breast with grilled veggies from a local restaurant. I am finding better options while I am eating out and making those healthy decisions are a lot easier now!
Tomorrow is weigh in day...I did take a peak (on the scale) earlier this week and I think I may come in with little to no change. As Dr. Roizen puts it - we should be seeing slow and steady weight loss - I think I am starting to see that - and no discouragement from me!! I am feeling better than I have in a long time so I am not fixating on the scale - it then becomes a numbers game - and it's a game I don't want to play!
February 14
Happy Valentine's Day to all!! Since February is considered heart month, it is also comforting to know that Paul and I have been doing the YOU diet and taking care of our hearts and health - probably the best Valentine's gift we have given to each other in a long time!! I was packing Paul's lunch today, and for a Valentine treat, I made strawberries, topped with probiotic vanilla yogurt sprinkled with chopped walnuts and one square of dark chocolate (70% cocoa) - I also plan to have this dessert later on today!
We are both feeling better and getting back to increasing our steps. Since our snow day, I may have to crank up the treadmill in order to get the 10,000 steps today... just a small adjustment to the day!
YOU can do it - keep up the great work everyone and to the recent viewer, Pat Stewart - I have a secret endeavor to one day run a 5k run (I have been wanting to do this for over a year). Thanks for your encouragement and I may get there soon enough! As Dr. Roizen puts it...slow and steady!!
February 13
Today I'm feeling a bit better and it was a real challenge at work today. I have been around a lot of valentine treats - cookies and chocolates and I have to admit, I gave into the temptation - maybe because I am still not feeling 100% and the comfort food felt really inviting especially since I was exposed to it all day!!
Last night I still pushed myself to hit the treadmill. I was short of the 10,000 for the day, but I came in at a close 8000. My son really wanted to exercise with me and dragged out the mat and asked me to put on the video. I really was not in the mood to do my strength training, but I thought if I went light on the exercise, it would still help me keep within my rhythm of routine and I still spent quality time with my 3 year old who was overly anxious to do sit ups with me!!
For lunch today I enjoyed a veggie and chicken wrap on whole wheat pasta - the meal came with rice. In the past I would have polished off the whole thing, but lately I am finding myself feeling full faster on smaller portions of food! Tonight I plan on having my chicken noodle soup and I will take Dr. Roizen's advice - lots of water! Or better yet Chamomile tea for a night cap!
February 12
I am now under the weather - compliments of my husband. I made more home-made chicken soup and this will be our staple for the next couple of days. I added lots of veggies and found a brown rice noodle to give the soup some substance but went easy on the salt. We are anticipating a snow storm in the next coming day so the soup will come in handy. Since I am not feeling well, I'm not sure if I can guarantee the 10,000 steps today. Just looking at the treadmill right now makes my muscles ache even more right now...it will be a challenge today...when I feel under the weather I do crave comfort food...so to see how I can avoid the cookies and crackers will be a test....hey hold on...I forgot...I have no cookies and crackers in the house - Dr. Roizen threw them away!!
February 11
I had a relaxing weekend spending time with my family. (Paul was not feeling well this weekend - he came down with the flu). We invited my in-laws over for dinner and I decided to make pork tenderloin, with grilled veggies, salad and wild rice patties. This was the first time I made these patties and they were an absolute hit (Paul only ate soup all weekend - poor guy). In case anyone is interested in the recipe here it is: Combine cooked chilled wild rice with cooked chilled brown rice. Add a couple of beaten eggs with salt pepper coriander and whole wheat flour. Form into patties and bake in the oven for 20 min. They look and taste fantastic. For dessert, I served a fruit platter.
I have to admit, I snuck in a piece of chocolate. My daughter was writing her Valentine's Day cards for her friends and we were attaching chocolate hearts to the cards when I fell to the temptation of having a small piece of chocolate - otherwise I behaved myself all weekend. Paul was challenged in getting the steps in this weekend because he was under the weather and I was able to log in about 12,000 steps for Saturday and Sunday.
February 9
Friday and another weigh in day....Are you ready for this? Here are the results!
Caroline
Weight: 166
Waist: 32"
Paul
Weight: 334
Waist: 50"
Paul and I were just talking last night and we realized that before we started the YOU diet, we were somewhat unhappy people. With the changes we have made, we find ourselves happier with ourselves and much happier with each other. We are at the halfway mark of this contest, and the one way I can sum it up so far is " We used to live to eat, now we eat to live!" Our lives now are full of activity, full of fun and we are feeling so much better. This journey so far has been inspiring and rewarding. I think I'm having a YOU-reka moment Dr. Roizen!!
We are doing more than we ever did before and this feeling alone gives us the drive to challenge ourselves to do the extra steps in a day or to do an extra sit up from the video workout. We are each delivering over 10,000 steps a day and we are finding ourselves competing to see who can bring in the larger number at the end of the day. We may have lost some weight, but Paul and I regained our spirits back and it is this spark that helps us to continue on with this journey of transformation. Have a great weekend everyone and don't forget to walk 30 min a day!!
Weigh to go Tami and Suzanne!
February 8
So last night I decided to make Thursday's dinner in advance in order to help save some time. I needed to deviate from our usual chicken and brown rice meal and really wanted to make spaghetti - the healthy version.
I went out and bought extra lean ground turkey and came home thinking I had all the other ingredients. I could not find a spaghetti sauce in the grocery store that was suitable ( too high in fat or too high in the sugar content) so I decide to make my own sauce. Thought for sure I had a can of diced tomatoes in my pantry only to soon discover I only had a jar of salsa instead. So I thought, why not Mexican-Italian Fusion? I sautéed onions in olive oil and added the ground turkey. Then I added the salsa with some tomato paste. I added more raw veggies to thicken the sauce and then near the end of the cooking added some real basil and oregano and presto - a spicy Spaghetti sauce - ole!!! So tonight I will be preparing some multigrain spaghetti noodles with my new sauce with a side garden salad.
The pedometer is still clicking away and I am now trying to challenge myself by trying to aim for 11,000-13,000 steps a day. Some days are easier than others and if I fall short of this stretch goal at least I am still clocking 10,000 steps a day.
February 7
Hump Day - I agree with Tami- the cold is so inviting to stay inside , just relax on the couch and curl up with a good book , but instead, today after work I gathered the kids, we turned off the tube and cranked up the tunes. We were dancing in the house for a good hour to our favorite Canadian band, See Spot Run and we were all having a blast especially listening to their song "weightless" - how ironic! I am so energized and it feels so great to have the ability to spend more quality time with your family! Even the kids are calmer!! Since the kids are eating healthier, I find they are sleeping better and more alert throughout the day with little to no dramatic mood swings - a welcome to any mother!! (maybe its because their sugar intake has been depleted)
Also got in a treadmill workout in the morning and I am planning on completing the video workout this evening. My kids always roll up their sleeves, pull out their mats and join me in the video workout - they love it too! It's so cute watching a 3 year old and a 6 year old trying to do push ups! LOL....
In light of the cold weather, I had a warm cabbage soup loaded with lots veggies and brown rice noodles for dinner today- compliments from my mother in law! Thanks mom! The soup is definitely a great staple to get through the cold days and nights and it works great to help me stick to the plan!!
Keep up the great work Tami (Jim) and Suzanne!
February 6
I am feeling fantastic! I am so happy with our progress so far. When I open our fridge now we see lots of colors - red peppers, green lettuce, yellow pears, purple onions...it really is inviting to see your fridge brighten your day every time you open it! Speaking of food, I have a question for Jennifer...I know Canola oil is probably a good choice of cooking oils. I have been using sunflower oil. Is this oil acceptable? Also, do you have a good recipe for us that would be a healthy choice but also great for entertaining guests? Yes - we have another dinner party on Saturday.
I also find working out is so automatic for us. I use to dread even having the idea of needing to get on the treadmill but I now find myself wanting to go on the treadmill - there is a new found passion and commitment for working out. I find myself feeling so much better and really energized after a great sweaty workout!
February 5
It is so awesome to get the viewers support and comments - thank you to all who have written to us! And a big congrats on your weight losses as well! I hope you are all doing the "happy dance" like Paul and I are!
Since I am on the road daily, I find I need to pack my meals for the day. For the last 3 weeks I have avoided any take out food including the fast food salads (except for the recent Chinese food on Saturday ) This is what a typical work day menu would look like and the below mentioned is very portable:
Morning: egg white omelet with veggies
Snack: Apple with 6 walnuts
Lunch: spring green salad with with chicken breast or whole wheat pasta salad with chicken breast
Snack: orange with almonds
Dinner: varies day to day
I would agree with Dr. Roizen - keeping 2/3 meals the same every day helps you from deviating from the plan. I have to admit, there is a small element of boredom (sometimes) with the breakfast and lunch options but I look forward to the variety at dinner time. I have to admit I have encountered times where I could not eat my homemade lunch and have eaten at a restaurant. Knowing this in advance, I would always go online and examine the restaurants menu and make my decision before I get to the restaurant in order to avoid impulsive and poor decision making.
Planning, teamwork and execution - sounds like a business proposal? yes and I think the same could apply when we manage our health ( we owe it to ourselves) - plan your meals, work with a team (a partner for support - I have my husband, Tami and Suzanne) and execute the plan - 30 min exercise and eat the right foods -The YOU on a Diet plan is really quite simple.
Steps: 11,154 as of 4:30pm
Video workout: Yes
February 4
Okay, everyone....here's the good, the bad and the ugly of our weekend. I will start with the bad. Due to the extreme cold Canadian winter (-27 with wind-chill), we could not barbeque so we did not have our anticipated steak dinner. And because we did not have a back up plan, our bad turned into the ugly....we ordered Chinese food. We did our best to sticking with the good choices like Beef and Broccoli and mixed Chinese vegetables but we also had the rice (not brown) and I'm sure the choices we had were also high in sodium.
The good news is on Sunday we were able to go back to the plan and stay committed. Even despite the fact that is was Super bowl Sunday, we still found a way to avoid all temptations that a super bowl game might bring. Paul and I found ourselves eating Chicken breast with brown rice and salad. No munchies and no beer. Just almonds, popcorn and water for the game. It's amazing how your body adjusts to the types of food you eat. When we ate the Chinese food we felt horrible (physically) and as soon as we went back to eating the healthier options, we felt better again.
We definitely got in the 10,000 steps and we even found ourselves slipping in an extra video workout
February 2nd
Another big day! We were so excited to step on a scale today - so here we go - the waist and weight measurements:
Caroline
Weight: 166.9
Waist: 33"
Paul
Weight: 340
Waist: 51"
Wow! Since starting the program I have lost a total of 7.1 pounds and Paul has lost an amazing 17 pounds!! I have heard that men have an easier time at dropping the weight. Way to go Paul! He says he is feeling great and he even went so far as to dig out his old hockey equipment and he is planning to play hockey with the boys tonight - something he hasn't done in the last 2 years!!
Thanks for the advice Dr. Roizen. We are having dinner with my sister and her fiancé on Saturday and we would like to have a small steak for dinner - a treat for being successful so far! We promise to keep the portion to only 4 oz! Well, gotta go - need to keep the pedometer running and the legs moving! Stay tuned for our weekend progress on Monday.
February 1st
When I was getting ready for work this morning, I noticed my clothes were fitting differently today. I don't think I'm quite ready to go out and buy a new wardrobe quite yet, but I am seeing a difference in how my current wardrobe is fitting - looser and more comfortable! This means only one thing though, weight loss= new clothes! Yah! This is coming from a girl who loves to shop!
By 6 pm today, I had already logged in 10, 302 steps. I got in my treadmill workout this morning and I have to complete the YOU workout video this evening. For dinner I made a great pasta dish - sautéed onions in olive oil with tomatoes and mushrooms. Add some pieces of grilled chicken breast and add the whole wheat pasta. Sprinkle with basil seasoning and - presto! An awesome dish - even my kids couldn't get enough of the dish - truly a kid friendly dinner!!
Paul is doing well and has been consistent with logging in the 10,000 steps daily. He has commented how it is getting easier. We are wondering though , if we can have a small steak this weekend? So far we have been eating chicken and fish and we are curious to know if we can add a red meat, lean pork or veal to our selection of dinner choices in order to broaden the interest in our foods? Please help Dr. Roizen and Jennifer!
January 30
To answer Dr. Roizen's questions about the popcorn - we add nothing else to the popcorn other than our favorite all dressed or sour cream and onion popcorn seasoning you find the grocery stores. We are finding seasoning on all our new food options really awake the senses and make the new foods taste awesome! Paul also invested in a new pair of running shoes - one pair he keeps at home by the treadmill and the other pair remains at work for his daily walks - that way he can guarantee he gets in the total 10,000 steps a day! A small adjustment but a big pay off!
Things are getting easier - I find we are in a groove and in a routine with our new lifestyle. We have the same breakfast and snacks almost everyday. Our dinner selection does vary from day to day. Paul and I work different times of the day so we never find ourselves having dinner together. Planning is essential and now the planning process is almost automatic for us - no extra effort. I need to workout on the treadmill tonight. I usually get up and work the treadmill at 5:30 am but today I slept in till 6:30 am so I need to make up for lost time this evening. I am already at 7900 steps for the day with a treadmill waiting to help crank up the pedometer in order to reach my goal. A secret to increasing the steps? - take the stairs instead of the elevator!
January 29
I just got home from a very busy day and I've already logged in 10, 553 steps for the day! The kids and I ran around in the basement and had some fun playing indoor soccer and before I knew it I am well over the required amount of steps so think I am going to bypass the treadmill tonight.
I still have to complete the YOU video workout tonight. I found it easy to get back on track after a not so great weekend - at least when your at work you don't have the time to think about food. I find that boredom at home can be an evil to overeating or least munching on the bad things!
I went out for lunch today and had salmon with grilled vegetables. For dinner it will be stone rye bread with sauerkraut (one of my favorites). Every other night I treat myself to a snack before 8:30pm (I won't eat anything after 8:30pm) So this past weekend I purchased an air popper for popping corn - it's great - I find the popcorn tastes much better than the alternatives! Looking forward to having some popcorn tonight!
To date:
Weight: 167.8
Waist: 34"
January 28
How the weekend comes and goes so quickly! Paul did not end up going to his business function on Friday due to a winter storm so he was spared the exposure of fast food! We had our planned meals of chicken and fish and we also took Dr. Roizen's advice in making an avocado and salsa dip - great snack for veggies and pita bread! This was our Saturday night treat!!
Getting in the steps was a bit of a challenge for me on Sunday. After we took the kids swimming, I promised my daughter a mother/daughter outing to the movies in the afternoon. I logged in only half the 10,000 steps on Sunday and I didn't get a chance to workout on the treadmill. I'm hoping to hit the machine later in the evening on Sunday. Hoping to get back into my routine over the course of the week!
January 26
Look out! It's another "happy dance" day today!! Today is waist and weight measurement day and here are the results:
Waist measurement: 34.5" (down ½ inch from last week)
Weight: 168.2 (down 3 pounds from last week)
Paul is down 3 pounds and 1 inch from last week! We are really amazed at how the weight is slowly coming off and yet we find ourselves eating a lot of food and never really going hungry! (except for the occasionally cravings for junk food).
We are heading into yet another weekend. We feel better armed at handling the weekends and I have already planned and partially prepared our weekend meals (in order to help us avoid the temptations of ordering in this weekend - in the past we typically would have ordered a pizza on Saturday night). Instead we have some chicken dishes prepared and I found a great recipe for a great fish dish on Sunday. I am discovering that planning ahead can really help curb the temptations of going out or ordering in for the sake of convenience.
Paul is facing a big challenge tonight. Paul has a business function this evening where there will be an abundance of fast food. I have a lot of faith that he can overcome the temptations! The pedometers are ticking away and the treadmill is functioning well - stay tuned for our weekend update on Monday!
January 25
I thought I would enter today's blog as a reflective one. I've now had the chance to look back at almost two weeks of sweat and tears and I can honestly say how proud I am of both myself and Paul for surviving what probably has been a gruelling two weeks. Our lives went into overdrive and we really felt the changes. Was it easy? No - not initially....is it getting easier...absolutely YES!!!! We are embracing the changes! We are seeing the results and I look forward to reporting our weight and waist measurements tomorrow!
It's amazing how in the past, I had no problems waiting sometimes as along as 30 min at a coffee shop line up for a medium double double and you would never have found me complaining about how long the line up was or how long it took to get the coffee. But in the past, if you had asked me to find 30 min to workout on a treadmill, I would have found an excuse and wouldn't have been afraid to pull out all the stops! How things have changes in only 2 weeks!
Paul and I are working together at being consistent in following the rules of reading labels. We are trying to ensure adjustments are made throughout the day in order to reach our 10, 000 steps and we are now finding ourselves restocking our fridge with better food options ! Are we working harder, you ask? No. It may look like it but instead we just feel like we are working smarter at managing our new lifestyle.
Today, I have logged in 11, 456 steps so far and Paul is over halfway there!
January 24
I was reading the viewers comments today and really want to say thank you to all - and a congrats to Ang from Morden, MB. Good for you !! I understand how hard it can be with young children and I am also cheering you on and all the others who have joined us on this adventure to losing weight and living healthy!
I was in my pantry last night looking for some "munchies" and I chuckled because since I cleaned out my pantry, I found nothing to eat (when I say nothing, I mean no junk food) so I closed the door and decided to drink a glass of water instead and eat a couple of almonds. I get fooled by whether I am really hungry or just really thirsty. It's a good thing Dr. Roizen invaded my home....otherwise, I think I would have had a setback last night!
I was at the grocery store buying some probiotic yogurt today when I felt tempted to ditch the yogurt and grab a candy bar at the cashiers checkout! I feel like I have been in control until recently (the last 24 hours) - the craving for "junk" is setting in.....Just in case you're wondering ..... I only purchased the yogurt.
Today my lunch consisted of a turkey sandwich with lots of veggies on 100% whole wheat bread with mustard and dinner will be Thai chicken Stir Fry (chicken with veggies on brown rice) and I may have to grab 1 oz of dark chocolate for dessert in order to fulfill my craving! Also had my nuts and fruit to balance out the day!
Caroline's summary:
Treadmill: 30 min, 2 % incline, speed 3.0 ( I promise not to overdo it Dr. Roizen)
Pedometer: 9956 at midday
Video workout: yes
Paul's summary:
Treadmill: no treadmill, 1hour walk at work
Pedometer: 6800 at midday
Video Workout: yes
January 23
I may have been pushing the envelope with the treadmill amount but Paul is more inline with the time and total steps - he is sticking to the 30 min rule and getting in 10,000 steps a day! I'm finding I have the energy and stamina to go the extra mile so I am trying to go to 60 min a day at a steady speed.
This morning we made another egg white omelet (can you tell this is one of our favourite recipes - easy and fast!) add in a banana for the car ride into work and don't forget the coffee (with 1% milk no sugar) and we were good to go! Even the kids eat egg whites with whole wheat toast!
I did the video workout that Dr. Roizen left for us, and I've started to use the intermediate level. At first, it was very difficult just for the balance alone, but last night I found it a lot easier and I was surprised at how much better my balance was and how many more reps I was able to do throughout the workout!
Another thing that has surprised me lately - in the past, you would have found me fallen asleep with the kids with just sheer exhaustion from the day by 9 pm. But recently I am still up and feeling very alert and awake by 12 midnight and when I get up at 5:30am I feel completely rested and ready to go the distance! It's amazing how in just one week your energy level improves immensely!
Caroline:
Treadmill Summary: 60 min, 2% incline, 3.4 speed
Pedometer: 10113 as of 5pm
Video workout: No
Paul:
Treadmill summary: 30 min, 2 % incline, 2.6 speed
Pedometer: 6800
Video workout: No
January 22
Surviving the weekend was really not that bad! Keeping yourself busy was the key to being successful this weekend. Sitting around and doing very little could have caused an invasion of the fridge. So I opted to working out more and getting out of the house in order to keep myself active and to keep my head out of the fridge!
Paul and I are doing great so far! Paul has logged 22,000 steps for the entire weekend. At around 1pm today he told me he was already at 6,000 steps. He told me he took his running shoes to work along with his ipod and plans take a walk at work on his dinner break tonight!
Yes, I still eat out of my car, but this time , I brought along a warm lunch ( sauerkraut with extra lean ground beef with a small whole wheat pita) and avoided all temptations of purchasing my lunch from a corner restaurant chain!
Earlier this morning, I decided to eat oatmeal with a banana and added a protein shake to the breakfast meal today and found that I wasn't hungry until 1pm! I even found myself not so hungry when I decided to finally eat my lunch! Typically in the past, I would be starving by the time 10am rolled around! Adding the extra fibre really does help stave off the hunger pangs!
Tonight is video workout night and I plan to have fish for dinner tonight - my favorite - tilapia with sauteed broccoli.
Treadmill Summary: 60 min, 2% incline, 3.0 speed
Video Workout: yes
Pedometer: 10566
January 21
We took the kids to their swimming classes and then went off to my moms for a Sunday afternoon lunch/dinner. For those are who are wondering what my daily food intake looks like then here is Sunday's sample:
Breakfast: Bran Cereal with 1% milk with fruit (ie banana)
Mid Morning: 6 walnuts and an apple
Lunch: Salad with Olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette, 4 oz of chicken and 100% whole wheat pasta (1/3 cup)
Dessert: 2 tangerines and 1 oz dark chocolate cocoa 70%
Mid afternoon: 6 almonds
Dinner: 3 tablespoons of hummus, 1 med 100% whole grain pita bread - carrot sticks and cucumbers raw - 2 slices turkey
Evening: 2 cups of popcorn (not the microwave type - take1/3 cup of raw popping kernels and place in corningware container with lid in microwave for about 5 min - top with any spice- taste soooo much better than the bagged microwave popcorn - and no hydrogenated oils)
Treadmill Summary: 60 min, 3%incline, 3.3 speed
Video Workout: No
Pedometer reading: 10,963
January 20
I thought I would increase my treadmill workout, anticipating a not so active day on Saturday. However, my sister called and asked if I could join her in our search for the bridesmaid dresses for her upcoming wedding. So I gathered the kids and we were out most of the afternoon. So I was able to clock more than the 10,000 steps for the day! It felt great!
My sister-in-law's party was a great time and we had some great food options - veggies, fruit, 100% whole wheat crackers and pita (minus the dips of course). We also treated ourselves to a glass of red wine last (I think one glass is allowable - right Dr. Roizen? Read YOU on a diet for the details). Paul and I decided to have dinner before we went out to the party in order to curb our temptations for snacking late at the party.
Paul made dinner - for those of you who know Paul - this was a first! Paul's expertise in culinary skills is his famous steaks on the BBQ and that's it. So Saturday, he made an awesome egg white omelet loaded up with lots of veggies and spiced it just right. Add a spring green salad with olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette and our dinner was complete! I am really proud of Paul for getting involved in not only watching what we eat but also taking control of what we eat by cooking our meals too! Way to go Paul!
Friday pedometer: 7700
Saturday Treadmill Summary: 70 min, 2% incline, 3.0 speed
Video Workout: No
Pedometer total: 14,573
January 19
I survived the dinner last night! In fact, come to think of it, I survived the first week! Going out to dinner was easier than I thought. I found the Mahi Mahi on the menu and asked if the chef could grill it in olive oil and lemon. The restaurant gave no complaints with my request and they were very accommodating! I have to admit this morning's workout on the treadmill and video workout were difficult. I feel so tired from a long week and I felt I could barely get through the 30 min! But I hung in there and remained true!
So today is a big day - the weigh in and waist measurement! I am in complete shock. In one short week, we have seen great changes in our numbers! Are you ready for this?
Waist measurement: 35" (down an inch!)
Weight: 171.1 (down 3 pounds!)
(Paul is down 4 pounds and 1 inch off his waist). Sorry, I forgot to add Paul's pedometer readings for Thursday: 8895
If only you can see us do our "happy dance" right now! But now we're facing another challenge - getting through the WEEKEND!!! This means constantly being around the kitchen! We also have a dinner party to go to Saturday night at my sister-in-laws! I must say, my sister in law has been very supportive and has assured us that we will not have to worry about the food options at the party! Thanks Eva! The support we are receiving from our family and friends is a critical component to our success so far! For example they will call to see what they can make for dinner for us if we are heading over to their place, or they may just call or email us and pat us on the back and give us some words of encouragement! Thanks everyone!!
We'll I guess its one step at a time - or should I say 10,000 steps a day! Paul and I are hanging in there! Wish us luck for the weekend!
Caroline's treadmill summary: 30 min, 2% incline, 3.5 speed
Video Workout: Yes
Tami - have fun in Cuba!
Suzanne - good luck over the weekend!
P.S. I'll have to report today's pedometer steps after the weekend....I will be away today on a business meeting!
January 18
Last night, Paul and I felt the 'tug' and 'need' for something "crunchy". But because we agreed to help each other out, together we came up with a solution to help us deviate from the usual choices which in the past could have been the potato chips.
We took Dr. Roizen's advice and toasted asparagus with some olive oil in the oven and then sprinkled some sea salt on them. They were fantastic! And crunchy too but without the saturated fats and calories! And we felt satisfied! What I did find challenging these last 24 hours was trying to plan out our meals for the next couple of days.
With very young , active children, and a busy schedule, thinking about one more thing like planning your meals can be overwhelming. So I'm trying to make things as easy as possible. I ended up baking some seasoned chicken breast in the oven. I will be storing the chicken in the fridge and using them for our lunches - chicken and baby green salad with olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette - topped with some sliced almonds! EASY! I have to admit I still eat in the car but this time it is out of a tupperware container from home (containing a home cooked meal) and NOT out of a paper bag from a fast food restaurant!
Now tonight will be a bit of a challenge for me. I am heading out to dinner with some friends from work! I know the bread won't be whole wheat and there will be butter tempting me at the table ! AHHHH! The perils of eating out. I do have a plan though.
The people I work with are very supportive of this challenge so I know they will be there to encourage me to stick to the plan! I'm also more aware of what to eat so looking for those better choices on the menu will be easier! Wish me luck! Let's see how well I can do!
Suzanne and Tami - It is great to read your blogs and share in your challenges and successes! I am cheering you both on!!!
Pedometer reading: 8545
Treadmill summary: 40 min, 3% incline
Video workout: no
January 17
My husband and I finished the task of throwing out the bad groceries and when all was said and done, I took a look at my kitchen and was amazed at how empty my fridge, shelves and pantry were. It was now time to go shopping! I gathered the kids this afternoon after work and thought it would be a great idea to also educate them about making healthy choices when it came to purchasing food. At ages 3 and 6, I would really like to see them start developing a healthy lifestyle. Paul and I owe this to them! We went to the grocery store and started to buy things like, whole wheat pita bread, asparagus, brown rice, sweet potatoes, strawberries, fish, chicken etc. and it was amazing to see how my kids asked me with each item I placed in the cart, "Mommy, is that healthy?" The new word in our house is "Healthy". Since it is important to be active in our lives and since Paul and I have now taken the initiative to incorporate exercise into our lives, we felt it was also important to get our kids active as well. They are now enrolled in swimming classes.
Today for dinner, I decided to make salmon, brown rice and salad. My kids are not the biggest fans of brown rice. They've always loved their white rice. Well since the white rice no longer exists in my house, I proceeded to make the brown rice and I held my breath as I watched the kids take their first bite of brown rice. I observed carefully anticipating the worst reaction from them but in complete and utter shock, the kids ate everything. In fact, my daughter who is a huge white rice lover said to me, "Mommy, this rice is great! It's better than the other rice you normally make." What an utter surprise!
I am looking at my pedometer and I have logged a total of 9180 steps today! I hit the treadmill this morning and plan to use Dr. Roizen's workout video every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. So tonight is video workout! Being on the plan today has really been very painless and I feel very extremely energized!
January 16
We just finished meeting with Dr. Roizen today and to sum it up? WOW!!!!!! I never realized how important it is to read the labels and ingredients. I am extremely surprised by what you think is healthy food, in fact, is just full of sugar and fat!
Dr. Roizen was amazing in helping us throw out the bad stuff...including my favorite crackers!! It was hard to depart from my favorite comfort food, but with the knowledge I gained today, I know that eating healthy will far 'outweigh' the benefit of having my crackers around!
My husband is also joining me on the battle of the blubber and as a team we are determined to make these changes our new lifestyle! I am so emotional with regards to having Paul join me. It means the world to me that he is doing this. I don't feel alone and I always knew he needed to do something about his weight and I'm glad that this platform gave him the springboard to finally commit. We have sooo much to look forward to.
We now have the tools to be successful: a healthy kitchen, a pedometer, an exercise program, Dr. Roizen and his staff and my husband and I have each other to support and push each other along the way!
I look forward to sharing our new adventure with all of you!
January 15
Today is day one of my new adventure. Am I nervous? YES! But I am also very excited and ready to make the changes 'real'. I am looking forward to 'staging' these new changes into my days to come. The treadmill has had its tune up and I am looking forward to meeting with Dr. Roizen. The transformation of my kitchen into a "Healthy" kitchen is welcomed and I can't wait to begin this challenge! Bring it on!
If you have questions or comments for our winners, or if you just want to cheer them on, please email hsherman@ctv.ca
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This is just wrong but if I were to send something to the politicians I would have sent the brain!
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