I do not think I have posted this here...

I entered this Domino Mag decorating contest and though I did not win the big 10 Grand prize, they are having a "Runner's Up" contest and I could win 1000.00!



Only one day left to vote for me! Top row middle: "Lara from Atlanta". They do ask for some survey type info.... but it only takes a minute and only your email has to be valid;)!
One vote per email, if you have more than one email you can vote with each one!!

Thanky!

I walked again, 3rd time this week. And each time I have gone a little further.

Healthy lunch, then errands to run, then school, my last class of the term.

Just had to give myself a little pat on my own back. I went to this sushi bar buffett, that has a lot fried options, even sushi. (This is the south after all, y'all!) I have a real big weakness for this tempura sweet potatoes they have and can usally even justify 1 or 2. Not this time, I did not get anywhere near them, I stayed on the ohter end of the bar, where everything is fresh and raw. I took half the rice off all my pieces too. I only had 3 small plates and some miso.

I did not make it TJ's but went to Kroger and got some healthy stuff...

I just want to report, I feel very good about this past weekend. I stuck to my plan for the most part. I did have a very small amount of sugar but in very low cal items. I worked out and I drank a ton of water. I also had soup for all my main meals. I already feel a little lighter but I will not weigh in till Saturday.
I have not worked out yet today and may not at all, and that is okay. I do think putting too much pressure on yourself can just set you up for faliure. It is very cold day, we had a big temputure drop. So I just don't know if I will walk. I may go later this afternoon if I feel like it. I will do some weights and toning stuff. I also may go play pool tonight...
I am planning to go out to lunch, sushi, I think...and I need to go to the store. I would like to hit Trader Joes.

I just got back from my walk. I have not walked since Friday? I have been burning calories though, mostly through cleaning my house. Monday I worked up such a sweat, I had to shower before running my errands, came back and sweated some more! :) I think it is actually my favorite form of exercise, cause you also get a clean place out of it.

I also did not log in my food, though I know I did pretty well until yesterday when I finished off the lemon tart, I got for my shoot! At least half of it!! Oh well, that is that and all you can do is move forward and act as if. In the past, I could take one little mistake and parlay it into a month long binge. I have no interest in doing that. All the food in my house is very healthy and delicious. There is no reason to go crazy.

I also have a goal, I am playing in a big tournament the first weekend of November, 3 weeks from now. I really want to work toward that event, to be in the best possible shape I can by then. I want to try and exercise every day and log in my food every day. If I can do that, I think I will see some benefit in my performance.

The weekend was great fun, but exhausting. I did not log in my food but I think I did pretty good and had just one real splurge. On the way home, we stopped at a Hardee's for lunch around 1pm. I had a patty melt and fries, I didn't finish it all but I was still so full last night, that I had just a snack, not a real dinner.

I just got a light work out in, including some cardio and weights and burned just over 300. I was too tired when I woke up to workout in the morning. It is beautiful here though, not too hot.

I had this sushi buffet for lunch and logged it in as 500 calories. I really did not eat that much, I also remove about half of the rice from the sushi. I think they pack on extra rice for their buffett sushi, so people will fill up faster. I never eat the fried sushi (yes, in the south they even fry sushi!), I did have two tempura sweet potato slices, I really love these, and I feel like the healthiness of the sweet potato cancels out the fact they are deep fried. I also hit the market and loaded up on salad stuff and "healthy" frozen stuff. I have 600 + calories left for the night so I think I am good.

I am down just half a pound but still feel hopeful since I adjusted my activity level and should be more on target. I had a really good walk today, making it all the way around the park and burning 485 calories. I only burned 200 yesterday and it was pretty tough to make it through on the calories I had left last night but I did.
I was planning to skip this tournament this weekend but my friend, Marsha really wants to go. However she is living in Alabama most of the time, though she has a house here. So she would drive in tonight so we could go together...she is unsure she can swing it. She is a funny lady, she is in her 60's and can best be described and sweet but flaky. I told her my concern, is I am an early bird type and she is the complete opposite. I think it will be fun though and she is willing to let me drive her truck and to leave early.

I really just want to stick to my plan as much as possible if I go... I want to get up really early tomorrow and walk before I go meet her. I am half hoping she decides not too go and half the other way...so I guess I can't lose.

I played pool last night for about 4 hours and was really hurting, the fall I had on Monday effected me more than I realized. So I did a light home work out today, a combo of weights and fluidity bar and some light cardio. I tried this tip, I saw last night on "The Biggest Loser", the trainer, Bob, said if you do your weights while standing on one foot, it will work out more muscles. It really does add a new element.

I went to the store yesterday and hit the health food section for some more Amy's products. I really have been pretty impressed with all I have tried so far. I got some of the "toaster squares" and really like them. The apple, I had for breakfast with some of the "Better than peanut butter" from TJ's on it. I got the cheese pizza too and had one as a snack last night. Pretty yum and just 150 calories. I also got some of her soups which I may try one for dinner. You really have to look at the fat content on her stuff. Some of it is pretty high, since it is really not a "diet" brand.

I just made my healthy burger for lunch...so good. I am feeling really good. Watching the BL last night, gave me some inspiration as usual. Maybe I will just take a short walk later...I will see. It is okay to take breaks too.

I am going to get dressed and head out for my walk. I made an adjustment last night on my activity level for my MFD calculations. I did not really understand that when I signed up, and after reading a forum post I realized I probably had mine set a bit high. It decreased my "resting" calories by about 200! Luckily I have not been eating the full amount all the time...but I feel like that sounds much more accurate, toward reaching my goals. Now I am getting a base of about 1200 calories. Before, I had put in "moderate" active, which I thought meant fairly normal. Anyway, I will try this and see how it goes...
Of course when you exercise you get to eat more, so it kind of motivates me to get in a good work out... though 1200 is very doable if your careful.
I have to go to the store later and bank. I am feeling a little sore, between my fall yesterday and I also banged my elbow really bad on the edge of the bar on Sunday, I feel like I was beat up!
I may play pool later, we do not have league tonight, so I may go to Cues...I will see how I feel. I was planning to go to Bristol, Tennessee this weekend for a tournament, though I am wavering on that as well. I want to go, I just do not want to drive.

My weekend was tough, only because I played in this very unorganized tournament and was mostly sitting around waiting all weekend in this smokey bar. I figured out. that I was there for almost 22 hours but only actually played about 5. So over 16 was just waiting! I did okay food wise though, at least until I got home Saturday. I then ate a brownie, I also had one for breakfast on Sunday, though Sunday is my "fun" day... so that is okay. The truth is, when I play in tournaments, the only way my nerves really show is through my stomach and all food just goes right through me.
I did walk yesterday, which felt good. I have not done any exercise today though. I may. I am debating this right now, as I do not have a lot of calories "left" but I think I might be able to scrap by...
Still a quick walk could make that a lot easier or even just doing some bar work... I will at least do that. I tripped earlier today, at this coffee place coming back from the bathroom. There was some rubber matting sticking up and I fell right on my face. My knee is bruised and I am a little sore. Not an excuse though, just saying...
I feel good though, about the weekend, esp since I won and will now advance to this tournament, in November, for the 2nd year in a row. I finished 7th last year in it and hope to improve upon that finish this year.

I am planning to leave around 2pm. It takes me about 2 hours to get to Clemson from here including stops. I need to get gas and I usually stop at least once or more. I try to make it to Commerce, which has a Starbucks right off the 85. I decided to check out their nutrition info yesterday online, cause I like their reduced fat coffee cakes. Esp the orange one, but that one was not listed. The lowest calorie one is the cinnamon, my 2nd fav clocking in at 290! Pretty much every thing else is well over 300 and the SF banana bread is a whopping 490 and tons of fat. The lemon cake was actually fairly low in fat compared to others including one of the reduced fat cakes?

I had planned a fairly short walk, but funny, I just kept going and the I did some weight training and logged in 526 calories burned! I think I might use my HRM when I practice tonight, I am really curious as to that actual log in...

My plan today:
shower
laundry (already under way)
pack:
cloths. toiletries & work out gear
food & snacks
Make sure Efren (my cat) is set
eat lunch
load truck (do not for get cue!)
get gas and hit the road...

I clocked in 503 calories burned...over 400 was from my walk, then some dancing and weight training. I really do love my HRM and being able to be so accurate with this. It also occurred to me as I made my way to down the last hill, I have not work out this consistently for months. ::pats own back::

As a reward, I just downloaded some new (to me) Dolly tunes... actually better than candy ;)!

I think I might take a look into taking some dance classes...like ballroom dancing, more specifically, salsa.

Oh and here is how I made my healthy burger, which I am going to make for lunch today too....

First, I start with an organic, lean hamburger, these are individually packaged so it makes it very easy. I season it with just a little garlic salt and an asian spicy red pepper blend I really like.
I heat the pan and just spray with a little canola spray...then sear the burger a few minutes on both sides, adding onion to sear as well. After it is about halfway cooked I add about 1/4 cup of water and cover to steam it the rest of the way. I add a little low fat cheese at the last minute then serve it on a whole wheat bun with my own 1000 island dressing (low fat Duke's mayo, sf relish, ketchup and hot sauce), the onion and some spinach...... it really is good!

Here is a pic of the one I just made for lunch only this time I used some light blue cheese dressing, instead of 1000 Island...

So, I just completed my first full week, fully committed and I lost 3 pounds! That is great, though I am still not even where I was when I first started MFD back in April (3 more to get there). Had I stuck to the program then, I would be at my goal already! This is the irony of weight lost and gains, we always envy what was once, not good enough. I am almost 20 pounds heavier than I was last year at this time! So, I feel like I am constantly swimming against the tide. Still, I feel like I really have found a program I like and I can stick with. This is much more about lifestyle than a diet and everyday, I have choice. Today I choose to commit another day to being fit and healthy.

It is not like I am giving up anything, yesterday, I ate really, really well. I had a delicious cheeseburger for lunch and ravioli for dinner. It is all in how you prepare it. I made both myself and just taking the little extra time to do it right, makes all the difference. I went to bed with calories to spare.

I am dressed for my work out and am about to head out the door into this beautiful fall morning. I feel really lucky to have the life and freedom I have.

I had a good walk. I went through the park and it amazes me how much I do not do that. I mean to have such a beautiful park so close to me and not fully take advantage of it seems just dumb. Though I do admit, it also seems a little less safe in places then the streets. Even during the day.
I have this image in my head of women I have seen running, where nothing moves on them but their ponytails, which swings back and forth...I hold that picture in my head as a visual motivation, a picture of fitness, I want to achieve some day.

I am going off to a slow start, but I have on my exercise gear and I am going to get my butt out the door in about 15 minutes...Someone once suggested that if you just dress the part you will find your self "doing it" more often. I think it is true. The Biggest Loser is on tonight, which I will have to record. I have league. I really love this show, it is so inspiring to me.

So, I finished 2nd in the tournament, details can be found on my regular lj here... I am only a little disappointed that I did not win, esp since it came down to the last game. I lost 8-9 in the final.
I ate really well all weekend, but allowed my self a tiny splurge after the tournament for dinner, I stopped at 6' Under, a local seafood restaurant and had these fish tacos and a margarita. I really felt incredibly stuffed when I got home. I am not sure if it was the dinner or a delayed reaction from this fiber one bar, I ate during my last match? I had to take a gas x pill though it was so bad.
Yesterday, I did my Beginners Fluidity bar workout with my HRM on and I burned 147 calories. Not bad and about what I was crediting myself, using "Power Yoga" on MFD, as the closest thing I could find to it...
I am going to walk in a bit. It is so nice out, cool and breezy, lovely walking weather. I have another tourney next weekend, and this is kind of a biggy. It is in Greenville and it is a preliminary qualifier for the Amateur Nationals, which are in November here in Atlanta.

I played really well, esp my last match, which I won 7-0. I am so tired and sore....my shoulder is killing me. This also might have to do with getting my period this morning. It just gives me more incentive to get fit! I had no problems sticking to my plan food wise, I did get an order of celery and some ranch dressing as a snack. This is always a good back up snack...since most rooms sell wings, so they always have this on hand.

I had two of the TJ's egg rolls for diner (just 150 calories each!). I also had two little pieces of dark chocolate and I still have 400 calories left for the day. I conservatively logged in my pool playing for 2.5 hours. I played 3 matches and I also practiced alone for about an hour. Tomorrow, I do not have to be there till 11am, the tourney starts at 12...I'd love to go to Ria's for breakfast...I am kind of thinking of making Sunday, my "eat anything day", I will only do Ria's if I walk it, it is about 3 miles round trip...

I'll see how I feel.

So, I did make it to Trader Joe's, despite the near hurricane that was flying through downtown. The TJs here, just opened a few months ago and I love it. I really hope you have one near you. I read part of a very long thread just about TJ's on MFD and jotted down a few suggestions which I was able to pick up tonight. I like to try something new each time. So for dinner I made two chicken egg rolls and a small salad. These were really good and only 140 calories each! Other things I got but haven't tried yet, is "Better than Peanut Butter", a PB low-fat substitute, a roasted vegetable pizza and some pomegranate & cranberry bran cakes.
I also picked up some Australian licorice made with raw sugar and some of their dark chocolate bars. These also are surprisingly high in fiber and I like to just have a taste of chocolate now and then.

I have a tournament tomorrow (for those of you who are new to my lj, I am a competitive pool player) and I think I am ready. These are all day events and so I will pack a sandwich and some snacks, to get me through. Being in a pool hall. I prefer not to leave anything to chance. I am pretty hypoglycemic so it has always been tricky. I have learned through past mistakes that white flour can put me into a coma...I would like to workout in the am before I go, though...I may not walk...I will see how I feel and how much sleep I get.

MFD does give exercise credit for billiards, though I usually only log in about 1/2 the actual time I play... It really seems a little excessive to me and though it dose invlove some activity, there is also a lot of sitting.....

I want to say HOWDY to all my new friends, who responded and added me via my MFD forum post. I have already gotten so much from reading threw your posts! I must thank idealmuse for posting some great links. I used this mapping link to chart a perfect two mile hike in my hood. I have always wondered what the distance of my walks were, so this is just fantastic. I just completed this walk, which includes a pretty challenging series of hills at the end, and burned 423 calories, according to my HRM.

My plan now is to have an Amy's enchilada bow for lunch (seriously too good to be a frozen meal and just 350 calories-!!) then head out to see this new Jodie Foster movie. I am so sick of dodging the commercials, I hate to see too much of a movie before I actually get to see it. I am also excited cause it is playing right next to Trader Joe's!!!! I need to get my fix.

I will bring a snack with me to the theater, just not sure what yet, probably these flax seed tortia chips. I need to buy more fruit....

Oh, I am also wondering about working out in the evenings or late afternoon? I want to do my fluidity workout, which is like a yoga or pilates workout. I usually do not work out in the evenings cause I am afraid it might mess up my sleep. But I am thinking this is not cardio and should actually be a good way to relax? Anyone else work out late? How does it effect your sleep?

I just tried a tsp of cashew butter on a low fat honey graham as a snake and yum! Just 84 calories!