I’ve been on a crazy emotional roller coaster the last two weeks (maybe hormones?).  It’s been tough which is why I haven’t been posting as of late. 

I will say my weight has been maintained—I actually lost about two lbs so I’m down to about 158.  I usually have a ritual in the morning (which I recommend to anyone going on a diet) is to only weigh myself in the morning after I get up and after I use the bathroom. This way there is no false weight and I do feel disappointed if it looks like I gained like 2 lbs (only to realize it’s just water).

Yesterday I made such a great salad for lunch, oMFG I can’t explain it! LOL I experimented and made my own Honey Dijon Truffle Mustard Dressing for a salad with roma tomatoes, slivers of red onions, capers, goat cheese, and maple syrup toasted sesame walnuts. DELISH!!! I made it again today for lunch because I can’t get enough!

I also experimented with Steamed Lentils and Goat cheese (I had lots of goat cheese around!).  Added some of the walnuts and BAM! Very good dish.  It was also very VERY filling. I think the walnuts are a great way to fill up without having to eat to much. So happy!!!

(Each Goat Cheese Medallion) has only 70 calories in each 1oz serving—-which is truly enough for me to get my cheese craving out of the way haha)

I LOVE THE CHANGE!!! 

I’ve been sick the past week with a dreadful cold but I wanted to have a progress report.  30lbs lighter and I’m loving it! I technically didn’t start losing weight until mid-February, but look how far I’ve come! I’m so proud of myself  **hugs self**

Seriously, this is a huge milestone for me.  I have about 30 more lbs to lose to get to my goal weight by the end of summer/year. I’m believe with the right diet and exercise I will reach my goal! HUZZAH!!!

I so need to find some good ones.  I feel like my legs are toning and losing weight because I go walking in the evening and upstairs/downstairs plenty at work but I need to start focusing on my core.  I’m carrying a small weight around as well to work on my arms as I walk but I need some good workouts for my abs.  

AAAAAAAAND, LET THE GOOGLING COMMENCE!

I’ve done all 7 tips and it has helped me tremendously.  I’m so glad to have such a supportive group of friends to.  

So I’m pretty much maintaining around 161-62 lbs this week but I am definitely hoping to get over the 160 peak by this weekend.  Must maintain focus!!!

But guys, I cannot not tell you I feel right now! I tried on 2 dresses I ordered from Charlotte Russe and the emotion that came over me…I looked amazing! NOT to mention I feel great with my body.  These dresses, I couldn’t have fit before!  I almost started crying. This is an amazing milestone for me.  I haven’t seen this number since at least Freshman/Sophomore of high school…HIGH SCHOOL! 

I just…I can’t right now. T.T

Oh but on another brighter note: I love my greek yogurt mix from Trader Joe’s.  I basically buy the plain nonfat version, mix in some pomegranate seeds, cocoa pomegranate trail mix from Target and voila! HELLA good stuff!  

Thanks you guys for following me on this journey.  When I actually wear the dresses out I’ll take pics and post it for you guys to see. It’s so awesome!

*hops on scale 5 additional times*

I honestly couldn’t trust my eyes.  I can’t believe today I made it to 163 lbs.  Granted, I’m also almost naked when stepping on the scale (shorts and a t-shirt b/c it’s freaking hot as well these past few days).  I also just realized that my driver’s license weight (received when I was a junior in high school) was 169lbs so I passed it a fews weeks ago…LOL

But wow! I can’t believe it! If anything, I thought I gained wait since TOM came to see me last week and stayed for 4 days. haha.  I had lunch with a friend on Monday—pulled pork adobo sandwich with a tomato and mozzarella salad.  She noticed I had lost weight to!  Yesterday though, I barely ate anything (which isn’t something I condone, I just wasn’t hungry).  My co-worker even asked why I still had a Kinder’s sandwich left (I only had half).  I think yesterday I was just upset about stuff. Not to mention the heat has been giving me headaches up the wazoo.

163 is a big number for me, mainly because I kept thinking it was my license weight but also it is my weight from high school. I can estimate and say I haven’t seen this weight since at least 9 years ago. HOLY CRAP! Not to mention I had two avocado smoothies this past weekend and a major mother’s day banquet dinner (although my appetite was smaller this time around and everyone else ate more food than me so there wasn’t much for me to forage).  I also had a really great vegetarian dish at a friend’s house: lentils and roasted butternut squash (nom nom nom).

I am still taking the raspberry ketones and african mango from Creative Bioscience.  I probably will keep taking it until the end of summer or so. Depends, I would LOVE LOVE to get down to 130 by August.  33 lbs in 3 1/2 months? I think it is doable b/c of the change in my diet.  Once I get down to 125 or so, I won’t mind the fluctuation of 5 lbs give or take.  

I’VE ALSO STOPPED SNORING!!! I think when I was at my highest I was snoring like crazy and starting to have sleep apnea.  Very dangerous, and one of the reasons I wanted, and needed, to lose weight.  I also need to lose a lot of belly fat.  My mid section is the most problematic.  My legs are looking great though =]  Might be the swimming and walking I’ve started incorporating in my schedule…

So I wanted to share my happiness and show that I can still enjoy food and not worry too much about my weight.  Yes, TOM comes and always puts doubt in my mind for about 6 days, but then he leaves and I feel a whole lot better.  I’m starting to accept that my weight does fluctuate and I can’t be too bummed about it.  It’s life.  

So it has been awhile since I’ve posted on here.  I’ve been quite busy but I wanted to post an update as well as share some new ideas.

My current weight is at a steady 167-168.  It’s been awesome heading back down to my high school weight.  My goal is to reach 160 by mid-late May and (hopefully) down to 130-135 by the time my cousin’s wedding rolls around in August.  

I’m no longer taking the hcg1234 drops as I feel that since they are hormones, I want to limit myself in taking it.  I did start taking the Raspberry Ketones from Creative Bioscience and just starting taking the African Mango 1200.  The Raspberry Ketones, as I’ve stated before, helped me lose an extra 8 lbs from my loss with the drops.  With the promotion from the company about taking the Ketones in the morning and African Mango at night to aid in weight loss, I’ve noticed that I haven’t felt as hungry as I usually do. The African Mango really helps in making me full all day with the Raspberry Ketones.

I’ve also started an afinity for Greek Yogurt, particularly the Non-Fat Pomegranate Greek Yogurt.  Very tasty with the Berry Blend granola from Archer Farms at Target.  It is an amazing breakfast to have and I sometimes I forget to eat lunch because I’m not hungry.  Of course I do eat because I always know my afternoon will be hectic and if I don’t eat, I’ll get headaches.  I like making mini rice-less sushi rolls with Smoked Salmon and Garlic Aioli Mustard.  So good!!!!  I’ve also started walking about an hour a day in the park and last weekend I started playing tennis with a friend.  Summer is going to be very productive….

It has been 3 days since I started taking the raspberry ketones and it has really helped me get over one of my hurdles and even closer to my goal!  I started weaning off the drops and taking the ketones and introducing other normal foods back into my diet.  While still watching my calories but not being worried if I go over the initial 500, I find myself not having to worry too much because I do feel the fullness.

Yesterday, I had some trail mix, smoked salmon/sliced almond/green salad, a granny smith apple, and California Pizza Kitchen for dinner. I thought for sure I’d gain something from that last one.  I had a fried avocado egg roll, roasted vegetable salad w/ avocado and pan seared salmon, mac & cheese mini-bite (really small and not very good), and the spinach & artichoke dip (hella good!).   Even had some bread and a little bit of butter.  I ended up walking a lot after words as we were trying to hit the shops before they closed but since I ate after 7pm, I for sure thought I’d stall.  Nope! haha, I’ve very happy I’m losing weight but not having to worry AS MUCH about what goes in my body.  

I’ve also gained a new appreciation for coffee and salads…yay!

The left is how I looked during Spring of 2011.  The right is how I look tonight.  I’m looking for photos of right before I started my diet to now, but as you can see, last year I looked a lot different…definitely a lot heavier.  I’m really happy this diet is working for me and I’m seeing results.  Seeing the results has definitely helped me to gain confidence in cooking and eating healthier.  

Day 2 of Raspberry Ketones and I feel like it’s really working.  Then again, I am still on my TOM and like I said before, I never eat that much while on it since the pain masks the hunger. 

My face definitely looks a lot less full which I am very happy about.  I’m almost down 20 lbs since I started.  I’m hoping to go down another 10 to meet my first weight loss goal.  I can do this!!!

So I’ve been out of town the last week or so and have loads to tell you! But for now, I’ll keep it short:

I was REALLY worried that I would have gained a few pounds back because of all the delicious food abroad.  REALLY WORRIED.  But then something crazy happened: I didn’t gain as much, if at all, than I thought!  This may be attributed to two things: My stomach shrunk and I did find myself being more full than faster than I use to when I go abroad and I did a lot, I mean A LOT, of walking around.  Public transport was the way to go but also you have to WALK to get to the bus/train/taxi.  Also, since shopping was involved I had to carry loads on my shoulder and arms while going around thus burning more calories.

When I came home I didn’t weigh myself.  What is the point of disappointing myself?  However last night I weighed myself (after a good 36 hours of being back) and I found my scale to read 178lbs.  ”Okay”, I thought “that isn’t too bad and it was expected”.  I wake up this morning and checked the scale again: 175.  175?!?!?! DAMN, I MUST HAVE BEEN BLOATED ALL DAY YESTERDAY! Lol I did feel like it.  It’s also almost that time of the month and so I wouldn’t be surprised.  I was also bloated while abroad because of the climate change and scared myself at one point thinking I got back to 182 (this was false because I had my converse on and that added on like 5 lbs; next morning I was 177).  

Crazy huh?