6/23/11 283lbs

I have FINALLY put a dent in my weight. I finally feel like I am losing weight. I have a long way to go, but I actually feel lighter. I look down and my stomach is smaller. I can stand at work for longer without it hurting my feet.

I've gone pretty extreme. No carbs at all: no bread, pasta, potatoes. No sugar at all. And no dairy at all. Just lean protein, two fruits a day and vegetables. I've managed to stick to it for the past 10 days.

My friends have been really helpful. Nina has introduced me to Vemma, which keeps me loaded up on anti-oxidants, vitamins and minerals. I use the Vemma Thirst, which goes in a bottle of water, so that I'm sure to drink my water. My friends at Starbucks are helping me stay away from the sweets and pastries there. My friend Katie was so awesome the other night; I dropped in for a visit and she made me a salad even though the rest of the family was eating pork chops and rice. When I go to trivia on Tuesdays my girls are so supportive, they always keep the basket of chips way on the other side of the table so I can't get to it...haha.

I've decided that when I get to my half-way point, which is 227lbs, I am going to buy myself a diamond. I never got an engagement ring, so I'd love to have something sparkly. It's also kind of a new beginning. When I get to my half-way point we'll get re-engaged, have a little honeymoon period while I lose the rest of the weight, then have a baby!

Keep your fingers crossed.

6/7/11 293lbs

Carbs are the devil. Obviously carbs are my issue. I've had less than 1oo carbs a day for over a week now, with almost no problems and...tah-dah...weight loss. One could argue that I lose weight whenever I pay attention to what I'm eating. Whether its counting calories, not eating animal protein, eating only shakes, eating every two hours, not eating carbs, in all those situations I lost weight. And when my life gets hectic and I stop focusing on what I am eating...I gain weight. But I must say, that when I cut out carbs I'm not as hungry. If I eat oatmeal or a bagel for breakfast at 8am I am hungry by 10am. If I eat a couple of slices of pre-cooked bacon and a hard-boiled egg, I am not hungry until 12pm easily.

I'm not living a total Atkins lifestyle. I am having almost 100% protein for breakfast, but then for lunch I have a huge green salad. And dinner is more lean protein and either another green salad or some kind of vegetable. I've been getting my sweet fix with berries and Cool Whip Free. I guess the way I'm eating is a little closer to South Beach, but I'm not following anything I'm just trying to use common sense.

I have switched to weighing/blogging on Tuesdays because I go to Trivia at Finnigan's every Tuesday night and I can't have a drink because I'm afraid of getting on the scale the next day. If I weigh in before I go I won't have that anxiety.

I've also been drinking this Mangosteen product called Vemma. It's basically liquid vitamins. But I think because its liquid my body is absorbing it better and so the vitamins and anti-oxidants are actually doing their job. I have a ton more energy, also I've noticed my foot and ankle pain diminishing which keeps me moving for a little bit longer. Steve had a lot of beer the other night and he only had a teeny headache the next day, no throwing up, no stomach problems at all. It's kind of expensive, but totally worth it. Plus, Steve and I take a handful of vitamins everyday so we were probably spending the same amount in all of those vitamins as we are on Vemma. I think its helping me focus more on sticking to a low-carb diet. Although a 2oz shot of Vemma has 8 carbs....hahaha I don't care!!