Still Truckin'

I'm here, I'm here. I just haven't posted in a long time.

Despite my absence from blogger I have still been trying to keep up with a healthier lifestyle. It hasn't been easy. I am in the final 5 weeks of my internship. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings I have either class, clients or supervision. This is BRUTAL on any kind of diet/healthy lifestyle. I have tried several different ways of handling this...some good, some not so great.

1. Not eat. Bad, bad, bad, bad! I guess in an effort to not eat something completely horrible, I went the opposite direction and just wouldn't get anything at all. I would typically crash...and often turn to whatever was closest (not always a good thing either)

2. Eat whatever is most convenient. Once again, not a great idea. Around the school and clinic area are a wide variety of fast food joints. Have your pick: McDonalds, Wendy's, Taco Bell, Burger King, Quiznos, LJS...and the list goes on. Stopping and grabbing something would often completely sink my eating habits for the day, and many times leave me feeling icky and bad about myself.

3. Find something (anything) on the aforementioned joints menus that might be acceptable. I have actually been pleasently surprised. Wendy's and McDonalds have awesome chicken ceasar salads...only 350 calories total (WITH the salad dressing). I leave off the parm cheese and crutons. But with the chicken it is a great meal and leaves me satisfied and feeling good. Quiznos is another option that isn't all together bad. If I choose a low cal sandwich on wheat it isn't too bad. An oven roasted turkey with cheddar sandwich (small) is only 240 calories. The regular (medium) size is only 420. Combine either of these two meals with a bottled water, and I am good to go.

As far as other choices I am still working hard to make the right ones. And that doesn't always mean denying myself. For instance...all week I had been craving a Wendy's frosty. I mean REALLY craving. It doesn't help that there is a Wendy's RIGHT by my office. To make matters worse, I wanted a Frosty Twister (w/ choc chip cookie dough) (480 calories, fyi). So all week I resisted. Then last night during our break from class, several of the other ladies were going to get ice cream. I had to make a choice. I chose to get a frosty. Not the twister but the medium chocolate frosty. It was amazing and totally worth the "splurge".

The exercise is coming along too. I have spent increasingly less and less time in the gym and more and more time outdoors with Gracelynn. It isn't as concentrated a work out...but I am still active. I have also been doing a routine at home every evening and working on my arms every morning. Once again...probably not as long or as intense as what I was getting in the gym, but I just don't have time for that at this moment. I would rather get some exercise hanging out with my daughter than sweating it out in the gym on the treadmill.

So there you have it. Any progress??? I haven't a clue what I actually weigh right now. I used to weigh at the gym and I haven't been in in several weeks. I haven't dropped a total size yet, but my current size fits me looser and much better. All in all, I feel pretty good. There are still times that I look down at my tummy and cringe, but overall I am pretty happy with my body.

Bottom line for me: Ben loves me and Gracelynn doesn't care what my tummy looks like. And that is alright with me :)