Hello, again

Sorry it has been a few days, things have been so busy. This weekend we went swimming, both at the pool and the beach....ahhh I love summer. I was just thinking today there is no better time to try to get healthy than the summer. There is no reason to be inside all day and no reason to just sit around when you have this wonderful weather to dally in. When I was at the beach yesterday, I realized how far I have come, instead of watching to see which girls my husband might be checking out, because I think they are skinnier than me, I was looking around reminding myself why I need to lose this weight. I used those girls to show what I want in myself and what my push is for. I will be "that" next summer and it's soooooooo exciting. Just so you know my husband doesn't check out the girls, I'm just paranoid.lol. Anywhoo, I mowed the grass today, with the help of my mom, since I just had hernia surgery about 3weeks ago. It was great, I never realized how therapeutic it can be, left alone inside your own mind to handle your thoughts, since you can't hear anything outside of the ginormous ruckus the mower makes. My diet has been great, my husband took his dad to Pop's Diner, as a late Father's Day gift,this past Saturday and I wasn't the least bit uncomfortable sipping my water, while everyone else enjoyed their meals. I am looking forward to incorporating veggies back in my diet. I already have some ideas for meals and I'm definitely thinkin' I need some skewers. This blog has been so silly today, oh well. I have been steadily losing the weight and I hope it continues. I have been putting some sort of exercise in my daily make-up so that I am staying active. I am still so enthusiastic about this diet and I plan to push even harder in the next phase, which I am to begin the day after tomorrow. Alrighty guys, Iam going to end here....ahh the smell of spaghetti in the background is tempting me, but I will be feasting on a turkey pattie and a little sauce made of non-fat sour cream, mustard, and garlic seasoning. Evenin' ya'll.

Day 3- ATTACK

So yet another day is coming to a close, hard to believe I am already 3 days down and my goal seems so far away, although I am very happy to report I am down a magical 10lbs. in just 3 days. That just shows you why they call this the "attack" phase. You jump right in and from the beginning the results are surprising. I haven't really come across any hardships as far as cravings, I just find, when I am cooking the sides and veggies for my husband, that I miss them, naturally, but who wouldn't. It's funny how you can learn to take the reigns back and control what your mind "believes" it needs or wants when truly it's all a lie. I have also been incorporating 30min walks into my schedule and I have been involving my family, my son especially loves it.                                       
As for today, I ate vanilla no-fat yogurt and my oat bran for breakfast, a glass of milk for a snack, a baked chicken breast for lunch, a piece of the leftover fish from last night for an evening snack, and finally, 2 small pork chops, all fat trimmed off and topped with a mixture of plain mustard and basil(actually pretty yummy)for dinner. And I weighed myself after dinner so the weight will probably be different in a few hrs(fingers crossed).

On a side note and out of complete random rambling, there was an amber alert in Harrisonburg, VA today. A small one yr. old boy went missing and I know all you mothers, like I, feel that feeling in your stomach where, just for a second, you almost feel as if it's your child. Let's all not forget that while we get to cuddle up and kiss our wee ones that another mother out there is crying and struggling to understand why something so awful could happen to them. Let's send up an extra prayer for this small boy and others like him tonight and remember what a blessing our children truly are. Goodnight.

I do it for the ones I love

So today as I was scrolling through other blogs, finding interest in those that are sharing this process of realizing our true inner "skinny-me", It hit me-"why am I sitting on this computer, listening to my children play in another room, when I should be moving, doing constructive things- things beneficial to my home, my family, and....my body?"  It's so easy to fall into a sedentary lifestyle that benefits nothing but growth of my bum, which, thanks but no thanks I do NOT need help with. All in good humor of course. I just had to make a mental note, now a physical one, that I have people that are watching me, asking me, "how's your diet going?" I don't want my answer to be well I am having no problem with the food part, but I sat at my carcass all day. I also had to remind myself of the eyes the teeny ones that call me "mom" that watch me 24/7. Do I want my kids especially my daughter handling her body image and dealing with the same self esteem issues the way I felt I had to at one point? Do I want my children to miss out on the busy-ness of life because something caught their attention on t.v.? Most importantly do I want to watch my children struggle with health problems the way I have since gaining this weight? the answer is simple....NO and the lesson learned is.....I WILL NOT ALLOW IT! I want to be a better mom to my kids, a confident wife to my husband, and a better built temple for my God. So today I learned to do it most importantly for myself, but just as importantly for the ones I love!                                                                                                                                                                 As for the diet today was another achievement under my belt. I started my day with some cooked egg whites seasoned w/salt and pepper and my oat bran. I had 2 turkey meat balls for lunch and another with some yogurt for a snack. Dinner is at this point undecided although I think I am going to do some lemon pepper tilapia. I caught myself twice today almost forgetting, when I gave my children some goldfish crackers, and almost slipping one in my mouth out of habit. This diet is going to be a great aide in breaking these silly habits that eventually add up and make up a sad portion of my caloric and fat intake. I of course drank my "prescribed" amount of water and had a small cup of coffee.

With that I leave you to continue this journey with me. I hope that you can look to those you love for the inspiration you may need and are lacking. Turn to your children, spouse, partner, parent(s), mostly God when you aren't sure let them be your reason. Of course do this for yourself first and foremost, but let the people you love be a motivational force when you just aren't enough for yourself. Keep chuggin' readers the train has left the station, but the journey is long and will be attained.

Day 1- Dukan Diet Beginnings

I will begin by sharing a starting weight and my goal or "true weight" as Dr. Dukan calls it. This in itself is the beginning of a new leaf turned. I have spent so much time beating myself up and hiding behind these numbers that I am not even sure who the real "Amanda" is anymore. I however have come to grips with the troubling digits, without this fact I could not assume my position of change. So without further procrastination...     
       Starting Weight: 208lbs.                                                                                                               True Weight: 130lbs.
Today began the first day of the "Attack Phase", meaning I can only have pure proteins for the next 7 days. I started the day off with plain no-fat yogurt and the prescribed 1 and a half tablespoons of oat bran, I found out I was NOT crazy about plain yogurt, I gagged after each bite(my personal preferences should not hinder your own, just don't buy the biggest container available, as did I. :) ) Today I bought Vanilla flavored to replace the plain, and it is allowed on the plan. For lunch I had turkey meat balls with taco seasoning to satisfy my natural humanistic need for flavor and was well satisfied. I snacked with a glass of no-fat milk and I am now cooking seasoned chicken breasts and siding it with some egg whites. So far motivation is still soaring and although I forsee shortcomings I don't predict them overcoming the grand end result. So for now I will end and my wish for the evening is that whatever struggles you face, learn to love yourself as is and then begin to change the things you want, to increase your confidence and the feeling that others can love you the same way you already do. 

Introductions are always awkward

Sooo hellooo readers! I am not really used to these "blog things," but I will do my best to supply you with the greatest amount of information from my experience with the Dukan Diet, to aide you in your own journey. I am hoping and, mostly, praying that I will not lose my way through the winding paths of my travels, although given a map, sometimes the distance seems tiring. I, not only, want to make this an endeavor to strengthen my body, but rather, my soul as well. I look at this as an overall possibility to change my life completely and without fail. So come along as I share my deepest thoughts and raw regards to this "plan" for a new lifestyle. I hope to be an inspiration to many and a picture of health for all in this new lay-out for my life!