Project: LGN - February Results

So I've been doing pretty good this month.  Not the best, kinda sporadic, but still something.  This is a lesson I've recently learned:  something is better than nothing when it comes to exercise.  If I can just get to the gym for 30 minutes it's better than nothing at all.  I understand that this is an obvious statement to most people, but I am one of those all or nothing types.  I get a plan and if I stray from it, I scrap the whole thing.  It's a character flaw, I understand that.  But I am doing better.  If I can't be at the gym for a solid hour, that's ok.  At least I'm there for some time.  And if I miss a day or two, I just go back instead of giving up.  This is a big deal for me.  The same can be applied to my diet.  You know how when you eat something you probably shouldn't, then all of a sudden you can eat whatever for the rest of the day cause you've already messed up and the day is a waste.  Apparently that's not true.  If I lose the battle with my will power at lunch, I can actually still eat a healthy low-cal dinner and keep myself on track.....who knew.  Anyway, all that to say....February went well for my goals. 

Long-term Goal: 38 pounds by December 31
Short-term Goal: 10 pounds by May 1
Total weight loss to date: 4.4 pounds

Now I know this is only 1 pound a week, but I've also learned something else.  If I want to lose 2 pounds a week, I have to alter my food intake drastically.  Something I cannot sustain for the long-term.  What I am doing now I can do forever.  I don't want to diet, I want good eating habits I can continue.  And it's been my experience that slow weight loss stays off longer on me.  Mainly because it wasn't a drastic overhaul of eating and exercising habits that couldn't be continued once my goals were hit.  And obviously the weight comes right back in about a quarter of the time it took to get off.  Change for good, Change for good, Change for good.  And STAY skinny.

And speaking of.....it's time to eat breakfast.

A More Efficient Laundry Room

I don't have alot of space in my laundry room.  I've got two cabinets over my washer and dryer and no where else to put anything free standing or it will block the dryer doors, the pantry and the guest bath.  I've run across some tips I thought were really good for me and some that were good, but wouldn't work for me.  I posted many of them in both categories for anyone who might need them.

• Get a clear canister for your powdered detergent.  This is prettier, a better fit for many shelves and cabinets, and shows you when you're running low at a glance.
• Catch loose change and other pocket treasure in a ar. (House rule: Mom keeps the silver)
• Stack dryer sheets in a shallow dish-it's easier than grabbing them out of the box, plus they scent the air.
• Keep a spray bottle of water handy.  Mist a wrinkled shirt, fluff it in the dryer for five minutes, and you just might not have to iron.
• Instead of a free standing ironing board, get one you can mount to the wall or to the back of the door.  You will free up some space and make it more convenient to iron all at the same time.

Better Homes and Gardens, March 2011

Project LGN: Heavy weights vs. light weights

Working with lighter weights actually stimulates your muscles 25 percent more than heavy weights.  You build muscles by pushing to the point of fatigue, not by straining with heavier weights.  The best thing to tone your muscles is to choose a weight that you can lift for about a minute before you become too tired to continue. If it takes you much longer than that to reach fatigue, the weight is probably to too light and should go up a bit.

Remember to alternate your arms and legs each day so you don't do the same muscles two days in a row (except for abs and calves, you can do them everyday). And vary your exercises cause muscles have memory.


Thanks Good Housekeeping February 2011

Project LGN: Greek Yogurt

I need to discuss something I have just discovered thanks to Family Circle magazine.  It is the weight-loss goddess: Greek Yogurt.  Let me list the reasons I have fallen in love with this little pound dropping miracle:

1. First and foremost, it tastes pretty amazing.  It's thicker than your average yogurt and creamier. It has a creme brulee consistency.  (don't misunderstand-it tastes nothing like creme brulee, that would be incredible).  I've tried two flavors: strawberry and honey.  That's right-honey.  Both were very good.  Greek yogurt does not mix its flavors in with the yogurt, it's either on top or bottom, which gives the eater the opportinity to add as much or as little of the flavor as they want.

2.  I loathe artificial sweeteners.  All of them.  They all taste horrible and are even worse for you.  Greek uses sugar.  Real sugar, but somehow has less grams of sugar than a Yoplait yogurt.  Go figure.

3.  Packed full of Protein.  A Yoplait yogurt has 5 grams of protein.  A Greek yogurt has.....wait for it........... 12 grams of protein.  More than double the amount of protein.  That is freaking incredible.  Protein is so pivotal to weight loss. 

4.  Totally fills me up.  I could probably eat one for lunch and that's it, but I don't even have to when I'm watching calories.  I can eat it as a snack and am forcing myself to eat the next meal which means I eat way less.  bonus.

5. Lower calories.  The regular Yoplait Yogurt (not the light one, which I don't eat cause the artificial sweeteners remember) has 180 calories.  Fine for a snack, maybe a little high for the amount of protein it offers.  Greek has 150 calories.  And I rarely eat the whole thing, cause I'm full.

I highly recommend buying a few the next time you shop just to try them out.  I bought Dannon and thought it was pretty good.

Results:
Long term goal: 38 pounds by Dec. 31
Short term goal: 10 pounds by May 1
Total weight loss: 2.2 pounds

Project LGN: the apps

Calories in, calories out.  The only way to lose weight.  So how do you keep up with that efficiently?  I use the My plate feature on livestrong.com.  This site calculates how many calories you need a day to reach certain weekly weight loss goals, it calculates the calories in what you eat and the calories you burn exercising.  Very easy and eye-opening.  We really don't know the amount of calories we eat in a day.  Really.  The cool thing for my smart phone users is that you can get that as a free app on your iPhone as well.  Other helpful apps:

1. Lose it:  (free) Alot like My plate, also available for iPhone.  I have friends who swear by this app.  They lose every week using it.
2. Isometrics: Also for iPhone ($2), shows you little isometric exercises you can on the go or at the office complete with pic description and timer for reps. It will also remind you to do them.
3. An Office Yoga: For Blackberry.  ($3) does exactly what it says and plays relaxing music
4. Office Exercise: For Android (free) You get a seven-exercise routine for your desk.  You can set reminders and pick your reps.

Interesting Buys

You know how magazines post alot of "Good Buys" or "Our Picks" kind of articles.  Most of the time, theses mags totally miss the mark.  Why in the world would I spend money on a little box with a peacock on the top?  What makes that a good buy?  Or Interesting?  Was it owned by Robert De Niro or does it repel dust?  No?  It just sits there?  Ok then, don't need it.  But alas, every once in while they strike my fancy.  Observe:

1. Did you know you can purchase Cafe du Monde's beignet mix???  You heard me.  I had no idea.  Not only can you buy the mix, but it's actually cheap!  For the low low price of $2.68 you can own a box of their delectable beignet mix, enough to make 4 dozen beignets.  That's 5 cents a donut.  Um, Yes please.  And let's talk about gift ideas here.  You can get their chicory coffee as well for only $5.45 and they are super cute old school coffee tins and packaging.  Get the mix and the coffee, put them together in some kind of a precious little basket with a bow and voila! a super cute, extra yummy, and creative gift for under $10.  Perfect for hostess gifts or happies, or even guy gifts.  I'm sold.  Where to buy: cafedumonde.com
2.  Ok, so maybe this makes me a little childish, but I just can't resist the cuteness: slip on, sequined, one-star converse shoes.  In a variety of colors.  Available at Target and super-cute.  You know you want sequined Chucks.  Admit it.
3. Maybe you already know about this, but I just learned of its existence last night: self-adhesive wrapping paper.  Hallmark carries a line of wrapping paper that adheres to itself and to packages (wrapping some materials is too sticky, but plastic stuff comes off easy).  No more shifting boxes, excessive taping, no more tape on your gift.  Genius.

Well that's it for today.  See, that's 3 magazines full of worthless junk i looked through to get just those 3 suggestions.  You're welcome for the time saver.

Project LGN: More on breakfast

I just read last night that skipping breakfast releases a hormone in our bodies that makes us crave sweets.  MAKES US CRAVE SWEETS!! As if we as women need anymore reason to crave sweets.  My breakfast of choice the past couple of days has been a bagel-egg-cheese sandwich.  It's pretty good.  You "fry" an egg in cooking spray put it on a whole-grain bagel with a piece of cheese.  It's 240 calories and very very filling (and for my weight watcher friends I think it's 6 points if I'm calculating correctly).  I've been eating this at 7:15 and am still not hungry by 10:15 when I have a snack.  But I found these cool new bagels that I'm totally in love with.  Nature's Own has thin bagels.  THIN!!  That's perfect for me.  I can never finish a whole bagel because let's be honest about those whole wheat bagels, they taste a little bit like cardboard.  But the thin ones aren't near as intense.  They are actually kinda tasty.  Also they are 110 calories cheaper.  So, ya know, win-win.