Day #20

Beginning Weight: 207.5
Today's Weight: 199.5
Highest Weight: 236
Goal Weight: 150


YAY!! I broke 200!!!! I am so very excited. And today is my birthday. What a fantastic way to start my personal new year.

I know that I may fluctuate up and down for a few days, because that's usually what my body does when it reaches a new low. But I hope to be out of the 200's *for good* very, very soon now. YEHAW!!!!!

Day #12

Beginning Weight: 207.5
Today's Weight: 201.5
Goal Weight: 150

Again, I couldn't help weighing myself this morning. I'm feeling skinnier every day and I want to relish in it. ;))

Today I wore a pair of capri jeans that haven't fit me in about a year and a half. They're still a little snug but I am tickled that I can wear them at all. They show off my ankles which I have been contemplating all day. The edema from my tattoo has *finally* gone away and it gives me so much joy to look at my ankles now because they look so small!! Oh the silly little things that have the ability to totally make my day.


Yesterday's Food Choices
32 oz green smoothie
w/ spinach, mint, mixed berries, bananas, coconut oil
8 am - home
iced coffee w/ almond milk
blueberry muffin
11:30 am - Starbucks
veggie & avocado sandwich on a croissant
BBQ potato chips
2:00 pm - Baile


Today's Food Choices:
glazed doughnut w/ chocolate frosting
cafe mocha w/ soy milk
9 am - The Patisserie
1 banana
10:30 am - work
fruit salad
w/ pineapple, melon, & grapes
12:30 am - The Patisserie
6 pc falafalel
hummus & pita bread
Greek salad w/ no cheese
3:30 pm - Leo's Taverna

I know that I am not eating nearly enough fruits and vegetables. I try to make a green smoothie every morning but have been getting up late a few days a week so don't have time. Still this week is a big improvement from last week.

6 days NO DAIRY!!! I can feel the puffines leaving my body little by little every day. And of course the sweaty yoga sessions help to flush it out, too.

Day #10

Beginning Weight: 207.5
Today's Weight: 204.0
Goal Weight: 150

Yeah!! 10 days down!!!!

I couldn't help weighing myself this morning. And lo and behold I am down 2.5 lbs from yesterday!!

I believe that there are several reasons for this:

For one, I know I've committed to writing down my food choices and this makes me think twice about what I put in my mouth.

Second, I have been without dairy for 4 whole days now(!!)

Third, and probably most significant, I have been back to the Bikram studio for 2 super-duper sweat-drenched workout sessions this week!!!

I really believe that getting back into the studio is key for me. There's something special about practicing in 105 degree heat with 20-30 like-minded students and a competent teacher to guide you through those magical 26 postures. Of course, I do like practicing yoga at home, too. And I will continue alternating studio/Bikram days w/ home practice/Baptiste days. So far I think that cross training w/ different styles of yoga is making me stronger. At the very least it is giving me a good variety. And that makes it a lot easier for me to practice every day. ;))


Yesterday's Food Choices
32 oz green smoothie
w/ spinach, mint, strawberries, bananas, coconut oil
8 am - home
chai w/ almond milk
blueberry muffin
11:30 am - Starbucks
6 red/yellow mini sweet peppers
2:00 pm - work
chopped veggie wrap
4:00 pm - Salad Creations

Today's Food Choices:
glazed doughnut w/ chocolate frosting
cafe mocha w/ soy milk
9 am - The Patisserie
1 banana
10 am - work
fruit salad
w/ pineapple, melon, & grapes
11:30 am - The Patisserie
special fresh veggie roll
1:30 pm - Safeway
1 slice double fiber bread w/ peanut butter
6 pm - home

Day #8

Beginning Weight: 207.5
Today's Weight: 206.5
Goal Weight: 150

I decided that I will go back to recording my food choices and times. I feel like this holds me accountable and helps me to see patterns. As you can see I haven't really been doing the raw food program. I didn't get a chance to make the recipes over the weekend which left me a little discouraged. Awareness is the first step, I guess. And I haven't had dairy for 3 days now - so that's something to be proud of.

Yesterday's Food Choices
32 oz green smoothie
w/ spinach, mint, strawberries, pineapple, banana, coconut oil
10 am - home
Kona chocolate chip pancakes
coffee w/ almond milk
1 pm - Mulvadi Cafe
dynamite roll
8 pm - Times Supermarket

Today's Food Choices:
32 oz green smoothie
w/ spinach, mint, avocado, pineapple, banana, blueberries
8 am - home
glazed doughnut w/ chocolate filling
cafe mocha w/ soy milk
1 pm - The Patisserie
green salad w/ vinagrette dressing
1 slice whole grain bread w/ peanut butter
6 pm - home

Day #6

Wow. Almost a full week into this raw food experiment and 101 day yoga challenge. Penni decided to change the name to "Raw Food Rehab" - which I think is a more catchy title.

I have done yoga 6 consecutive days! 3x Baron Baptiste video and 3x Bikram audio cd. And tomorrow I go back to the studio after a 3 week hiatus.

Today also marked my first day of no dairy. Yesterday I decided that I am going to give up dairy cold turkey for a full year. Now I'm probably going to have to play it by ear as far as items that contain dairy as an ingredient. And I may have butter occasionally. But definitely no cheese and no milk, or really *any* obvious dairy, for that matter. I know that I can do this. I gave up diet soda for a full year and now it's not even an option for me. It's time to give dairy the boot as well.

I am planning to make a couple of Alissa Cohen's recipes tomorrow. Maybe I will post a couple of pictures if they turn out well. I want to have yummy raw food choices on hand so that it's easier to stick with the program.

Anyway, so far so good. I will be weighing in tomorrow so we'll see just how good. ;))

Day #4

Well, still struggling a bit on the diet front. I seem to keep making excuses for why I want to eat things that I know I shouldn't. The good news is that these deviations are limited. And I have been doing yoga every night.

But I know that to get the results I want I really need to get my eating habits in line. Exercise is only half of the equation. I have been drinking a green smoothie every day for breakfast. But then today I had Mexican food for lunch complete with the cheese I've intended to swear off.

HMMM. I know that planning plays a big role in whether I succeed or fail. So this weekend I will try to make a bunch of recipes from Alissa Cohen's book so that I have yummy raw things on hand to eat at all times. I will also get back on track with eating a big raw salad for lunch every day.

I am committed to doing this. Now or never. So what the heck have I been waiting for!?!!

Day #2

As you can see I have posted some very scary before pictures. I shudder to look at them now but I know that I will eventually want documentation of the dramatic changes in my physical appearance. I am completely confident that I will lose all the weight I want to. And I will do it in a healthful manner so that it never creeps back to bother me again.

I got off to a little bit of a rocky start on the diet front. The past couple of days have been a little rough. But I'm pleased to report that I am full speed ahead on the workout front. 2 days of yoga under my belt and 99 to go. ;))