I'm moving on...

...to the next phase of the Atkins diet plan. I was surfing the web and found an article about 7 mistakes you may be making on your low carb diet. Well I was guilty of 4 of the 7 mistakes! Yikes!!! My original plan was to remain in the Induction phase until I reached 199 pounds. After reading the article I am really doing myself an injustice by staying so long in the initial phase.


I have to admit it was my fear of choosing the wrong foods and slowing down my weight loss progress that prevented me from moving on to the next phase. But I eventually have to figure out what foods I will be able to eat and what foods I must avoid. The sooner I start that phase the better. I have to learn what my carb limit will be...that is what I fear, the trial and error process. Ugh! I don't want to do it. I must if I am going to reach my weight loss goal I guess.


Anyhoo, I'm off to bed. What are your thoughts about being on a diet but your fears are preventing you from moving to the next phase of your diet plan? How are you going to approach the challenge you face? If you have any suggestions please feel free to leave them below. Biting my nails right now. I'm a big girl. I'm a big girl. (Oh yeah I am a big girl...whole reason why I'm here, LOL) I can do this...right?

Fashionable Friday: Boatnecks & Cardis & Animal Prints...Oh My!

Happy Friday Fashionistas!!!

{all images, jcrew}

I love classic preppy looks and as always J Crew delivers. I am a very casual dresser. Jeans, boatneck tee shirt or blouse and a cardigan or sweater set. Since I have quite a large chest I typically opt for the twinset as opposed to a shirt and blazer. I always feel like a linebacker in women's clothing when i wear a blazer. So I choose the twinset and top it with my signature pearls. One thing I look forward to when I achieve my goal weight is wearing a blazer.

{steve madden shoes, scout bag}

My go to staple shoe is a loafer or ballet flat. I love flats. Whether they're boring or unique I just love em! Heels...I'll pass. Now when I get to my goal weight maybe that will change...but for now gimme FLATS!

So what is your casual style? Post your comments below. Thanks for stopping by. Happy weekend!!!

What is more important? Part Two

In my last post I spoke about priorities and choosing what is more important, losing the weight or eating your favorite foods. While on YOUR journey, have you ever noticed foods that may make you feel a bit off center? Warning! This post requires quite a bit of self reflection. You may find this challenge a bit tough, you are going to have to look at your favorite food from a non bias perspective. You may have to do this exercise more than once but it was an exercise that helped me make wiser food choices. It may help you too.

{Hmm, let me think...}

First think about what you feel like when you feel your best? Do you feel like you can conquer the world? Do you feel like you want to give everyone a hug? What do you feel like? Now think about what you feel like when you’ve over indulged on your favorite foods. Outside of feeling like you are about to pop or throw up, how do you feel otherwise? Do you feel jittery, intoxicated, disoriented, euphoric, lethargic, hungry, thirsty? Is your heart racing? Do you feel out of breath? What are some physical symptoms you are experiencing? Next time you sit down to enjoy your favorite foods jot down how you feel. Physically and emotionally. Taking note on how you feel will be an eye-opening experience. 

Once you’ve taken into account how you feel, now think about how important losing weight is for you? Ask yourself, is it more important to lose the weight and feel better? Or is it more important to satisfy your craving of the moment despite the fact that it may make you feel less than stellar physically? It may sound silly to reflect on how the foods you eat affect you but knowing how your body reacts will help you to achieve and maintain your weight loss. So how do you feel about this post? Too much self reflection? Not enough? Let me know, post below. 

What’s more important? Part One

Hello my fellow 2b’ers! My post today is a “Two Parter” folks... I really want to talk about setting your priorities during your weight loss journey. 

Priorities you ask? Yes! Priorities. And I’m not talking about your overall weight loss goal as a priority. I am talking about the little day to day “forks in the road” so to speak  or challenges you will face during your weight loss journey. For example, what is more important for you? Reaching your short term or mini goal weight? Or chowing down on something you really shouldn’t be eating because you inner child feels deprived on your new way of eating. Let me tell you that this will be something you will continue to face, and it is best to face it head on before you more forward with your weight loss journey.

Here is an example of one of the things I’m faced with. I LOVE pizza. Well, being on the Atkins diet that is like fatal death! That’s like telling your uber religious mom...”Hi mom, by the way, I’m a devil worshiper!”...okay that is a bit extreme but you get where Im coming from.  So the challenge is this...accepting the fact that in reality I can no longer eat these foods. Long ago I learned that pizza wreaks havoc on my body when I would eat it. My heart would race, I would feel almost intoxicated, and I just wouldn’t feel quite right. So it started back when I was a teen and pizza from Lil Caesars jump-started my bout with asthma. I know It sounds crazy but to this day I feel there was something in that pizza that set off my new (at the time) chronic illness. So from that point on I chose to no longer eat Lil Caesar’s pizza. Shortly after that I learned that Pizza Hut “Meat-lovers” pizza force me to drink water uncontrollably. I couldn’t get enough and then after that I would pee on controllably. So then Pizza Hut was crossed off my pizza eating list. Eventually all pizza’s including my favorite, Papa Johns was on the ban list. At this point I’ve realized that it is more important for me to feel better than to eat pizza. So my priority is to feel better than to satisfy my inner child for about 10 mins and eat a slice of pizza. Don’t get me wrong I’m still human and on occasion I eat pizza. I mean really who doesn’t love a pizza party? That just screams “Calling all inner children come chow down!” But instead of inhaling 1/2 to 3/4 of a pie of meat lovers pizza I now eat a slice, maybe two of cheese pizza. While on the induction phase its just the cheese no crust. And I gotta admit the cheese is my favorite part anyway. 

My journey to thin has been very educational and enlightening. I’ve chosen to listen to my body more than to please my inner child with foolish life shortening indulgences. I’ve realized that I must make priorities when it comes to my health and my weight loss goals. Part two of this post continues with exploration of foods you may have to “give up” to achieve and maintain your goal weight. Also we'll explore tasty alternatives to avoid feelings of deprivation. Come back to explore and don’t forget to post your comments!

I haven't been completely honest...

Ooh did that title grab you? Well I was thinking about my posts regarding my weight loss progress and I've been a bit one-sided. I haven't documented the times when my weight has gone up even if it's 2/10th of a pound. This blog serves as my online documentation of my struggles and triumphs while getting to my goal weight, so that is what I need to provide my readers. Well it isn't fair if you're reading a blog and the author only documents the actual weight loss not her struggles when the weight creeps back on again. So going forward I will also document when my weight goes up and my moments of weakness.

{photo}

With that being said I have had some major cravings lately, I haven't been drinking enough water, nor taken my multi-vitamins. There I said it! I had pasta yesterday and I shouldn't have. I feel it set off a massive craving campaign that I don't rendered me helpless. One thing I have enjoyed so far on the Atkins diet is that I've had no cravings. In the book Dr Atkins warned his readers to steer clear of eating refined carbs. Even the "its just one bite" thought is a fatal mistake for the Atkins dieter. I should have heeded his advise. I am going to take being on induction more seriously. I've accepted that this is my new way of life since it has allowed me to see the most progress than any other diet I've attempted. So I'm moving forward and staying focused! How do you regain focus when you've gone off your diet? Please leave a comment below. Happy Sunday!

Overcoming sabotaging thoughts and a video

I don't know about you but from time to time I have sabotaging thoughts. Sabotaging thoughts are thoughts that sneakily creep up on you when you are progressing along smoothly with positive thoughts and actions. When on a diet or a weight loss regime it's the voice that says "Come on you can have a piece of cake, you've been so good" or "Who are you fooling you're not going to reach your goal weight, give up now this is too much work." Well you CAN overcome and conquer those thoughts.

I love this song and the 80's look La Roux is rocking in the video! My little "Me" told me about this song when we were out bowling in Utah. I love the lyrics. "I'm Bulletproof" I'm not going to let those sabotaging thoughts take over. I'll play this song when I feel like the thoughts are trying to move in and mess me up. What's your strategy for overcoming sabotaging thoughts?


Remember you are who you THINK you are! You are AMAZING!

See Banana Republic’s Complete Mad Men Collection

Hello you Fashionistas!

Monday I received this month's Lucky Magazine and there it was, an ad for the MadMen collection at Banana Republic!!!! I don't watch the tv show but I do LOVE fashions from the 50's and 60's! Unfortunately when I went to Banana Republic's website for images there were none. Here are a few images I found on StyleCaster.

The link below will take you to a slideshow of the new collection as well.

See Banana Republic’s Complete Mad Men Collection

Fashion silhouettes from the 50's to about the mid-60's are by far my favorite. Ladies were dressed like ladies and not hookers. I know that statement is a bit harsh but I'm about tired of the skinny jeans, sequin tops, and 6 inch platform hooker stiletos look. I think women can wear clothing that enhances their figure without having to wear something skimpy or too revealing. Let's leave something to the imagination ladies.

I also love 80's preppy...argyle sweaters, Lacoste shirts, Sperry topsider shoes, and Tretorn sneakers, there isn't anything like it!!! What era do your favorite fashions come from? Do you wear them now or will your wear them when you get closer to your goal weight? Post your comments below, I can't wait to see what you post!