Tuesday, January 08, 2008

Now I feel like the biggest loser

Yesterday was day 1 of the Biggest Loser 3 competition, organized by my real-life and blogging friend Tiburon. I started the day off with my weigh-in - which was a discouraging blow. Last year, I also competed in Biggest Loser 1 and 2, losing a total of 22 pounds. I know 22 pounds isn't much, but I'm a slow loser. Yesterday when I weighed-in, I was only one pound lighter than when I started BL 1. That means it took me 8 months to lose 22 pounds, and 8 weeks to gain 21 pounds. I know I'd been lax lately about eating whatever I wanted (especially during the holidays). But I didn't think it was really that bad. I still eat relatively healthy - but apparently not as healthy as I've deluded myself into thinking.

So - I was motivated. I emailed Tib the pictures of me in my underwear, and decided I was going to win this thing. I drank only water all day - and lots of it. I ate my bowl of Dee's Cereal for breakfast, followed by cashew butter on wheat with a cup of soup for lunch. By dinner time, I wasn't particularly hungry, and I was expecting to eat a small amount of dinner. But, Ben suprised me by bringing home my favorite meal - a Cafe Rio salad. I know he meant well, so I didn't have the heart to tell him I couldn't eat it (I didn't have the will-power either). I did share most of the whole-weat tortilla with Gracelin, and Bryn ate most of my beans and rice. I also left off the guac and dressing. Maybe I didn't do too badly (although that salad has 1800 calories!!! Who said salad is healthy?)

I also managed an hour on the dreadmill after the girls were asleep. So all was not lost. I surely could have done better. I'm not going to win the $575 pot this way either. I've got to buckle down.

Anyway - just so I can keep myself on track I'm going to write down my plan.

1. Eat only whole foods, with no partially hydrogenated or high-fructose anything. No white flour. No white sugar. Eat lots of fruit and veggies. Limit my calories to less than 1500 per day.

2. Spend at least 1 hour doing cardio 5 times a week, and 2 days of strength training.

3. Drink only water

4. Get enough sleep (I find the days I struggle the most are when I'm tired)

That doesn't sound too difficult, does it?

15 comments:

Anne Marie said...

Oh, Christie, why did you have to tell me that salad has 1800 calories? I always think, oh, I'll just get a Cafe Rio salad. No harm in that. I'm just going to pretend I don't know. And yes, your plan does sound way difficult, but I know you'll do it!!! You are amazing!!!

Savage Family said...

Good luck you can do it!!!

Jess T said...

Wow! I admire your commitment! Go for it.

Gina said...

Hey Christie...I added you to my blog too!! I love reconecting with old friends...because through blogging they become better friends!! Good luck with the biggest loser challenge...you can do it!! And oh how we miss our Cafe Rio salads out here in NC!! Love ya

tiburon said...

Christie don't feel bad! I think 1800 calories is completely inaccurate. Here is what I found:
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 salad without dressing
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Amount per Serving

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Calories 525 Calories from Fat 31



% Daily Value *
Total Fat 3.4g 5%
Saturated Fat 0.6g 3%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 135mg 6%
Total Carbohydrate 101.6g 34%
Dietary Fiber 20.7g 83%
Sugars 7.3g
Protein 26.7g 53%

And that is without the dressing - I doubt the dressing has THAT many calories in it. But I still don't think you are looking at an 1800 calorie meal. I think that is a myth!

tiburon said...

Oh, and I think you should come back to kickboxing. I miss you :)

Christie said...

Thanks Tib for posting that about the salad. I was always counting it at about 1000 until Arianne said that about the 1800. I was shocked, but I thought maybe there was stuff in the beans and rice that I wasn't aware of. I barely eat any dressing when I get the salad too.

And I totally miss kick boxing. Ben has basketball on Thursday nights, and of course that trumps my wishes to go. What is on Saturday mornings?

carrie said...

Good luck to you, Christie!! Starting a whole new little eating plan is so hard....and eating is just so much fun, huh?? I love love love Cafe Rio salad....and when I can't eat stuff like that, it makes me realize just how much I do really LOVE it. Make sense?? ha ha One of my friends emailed me about cake today. Well I just sat there and salivated over it. ha ha I couldn't stop thinking about CAKE. Yikes.... So I ate some carrots. They didn't quite do it for me. ha ha I just can't wait to drop weight....so it'll all be worth it. I admire you for the picture in the underwear thing. Jason told me that Jon Frampton said we should do something like that where we send our "before" pictures in, wearing a swimsuit....and I interrupted him with a "#*#**&^ NO WAY" . I'm not quite that confident. :o) I got a great work out plan from a friend of mine, and I'm hoping it works. I look forward to checking in on your blog and seeing how you're doing with all this!! You're awesome....You'll be able to do it!! :o)

The Gatherum Family said...

I think the salad is closer to 500 calories as well, not including the dressing. First off they don't give you that much dressing, I can't imagine it being more then 200 calories or so...anyways, good luck-you are seriously SO awesome and inspirational. I am going to try to train for a half marathon after this baby. I'm gonna need it!!

tiburon said...

Christie - There is a 90 minute weight training class on Saturdays. It is KILLER! But great.

Starts at 7 at Gene Fullmer :)

Anonymous said...

Good luck with winning the Biggest Loser competition! I think you'll do great! You might want to check out "Extreme Fat Smash Diet" by Ian Smith - excellent book with eating VERY healthy. It's also very structured, which I know really helps me. (i.e. Day 1 Week 1 - Breakfast - 1 egg and 1 piece of fruit or 1/2 cup fruit juice)

Again, good luck!

Oceanchild said...

Wow, 1500 calories! I don't know if I could do that...but I'm a really bad eater. Your plan sounds great. I still don't know how you fit everything in. I get home from work and just want to crash.

BTW, the curry in that Lemon Curry dish isn't spicy at all. It just has the curry flavor. I just use the curry from McCormick (or whatever it is) when I don't want it spicy, but want the flavor.

Good luck with your plan!

Christie said...

I get home from work and want to crash too. Last night I had a City Council meeting, so I worked 7am to about 9pm, with only a short break when I took the girls to dinner. I didn't run last night, but most nights I make it. Sometimes on the days I have night meetings, I will work out on my lunch break instead.

The Rose Family said...

Thanks so much for your words of encouragement! And best of luck to you in your Challenge. I'm sure you're going to do great. You seem to be so organized and your plan looks totally do-able. I'll be following your progress. I'll also volunteer to gain whatever weight you lose! :)

Jan said...

You can do it! I know you can. Just hang in there and keep on keepin' on. Yay for you! Go get 'em!