It's Weigh In Day!!!

Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls...


I am happy to report that

My weight, as of March 8 is:

 309 pounds

A loss of 4 pounds from last week!

We did pretty good last week, didn't we?

Today I went to the gym and worked out for a loooooooong time.  In the past I have typically average 2.5 to 3 miles on the elliptical.  I get really burnt out around mile 2 and that is the time that I usually hit the ''Cool Down'' button and finish the last 1/2 mile at an easy pace.  Today the 2 mile mark came and I wasn't tired, then the 3 mile mark, then the 4 mile mark.  Before I knew it I had finished 5 miles!  It was crazy and I felt soooo good afterward, it was a great accomplishment for me.  Today was also the day of my first 10 pounds, so that's another great step in the right direction.

My next big goal is to get below 300 pounds by my birthday (April 2nd).  That's just a little over 3 weeks away; so, give me the encouragement I need to get there.  As I said earlier, I am sticking to my goal of losing 35 pounds by graduation (May 17th).  That is 10 weeks away, I'm not sure if I'll make it, but I am going to try...I am already headed that way!!!

Until Next Time...

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

-Tyler

Quick Saturday Morning Hello...

Hi Everyone,


Well, we have made it to another weekend, this is where I usually don't do so hot.  Today I am headed to Durham, NC to see the musical Spring Awakening with some friends.  I'm going to try my best to not eat too much, to drink only water, and to steer clear of gas station snacks.  The weekends are tough because I usually go out to eat more and I'm traveling, so that makes it even harder...McDonald's is the easiest solution, but I'll control myself!


Have a great weekend everyone.  I'll try to update tomorrow, if not it will be Monday with the newest weigh in results!!!


Until Next Time...


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


-Tyler

Pork Chops, Mashed Sweet Potatoes, and Asparagus

Pork Chops, Mashed Sweet Potatoes, and Asparagus


It's recipe time!!!



Let's get started with a picture of what you're going to be making:

Looks pretty good, huh?

Here we go...

Marinated and Grilled Pork Chops

Note:  You'll need some time for these to marinade before cooking them!  If you want them for dinner tonight...it's too late, get your marinade put together and put your pork chops in the marinade the morning you plan to have this meal.

What You'll Need:

• 2 - 3 oz. boneless pork chops
• 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper

What To Do:

1)  Make a marinade of the soy sauce, water, lemon juice, honey, garlic, and black pepper.  Mix all ingredient together in a large sealable plastic bag.

2)  Rinse pork chops and place in plastic bag.  Let marinade for at least 6 hours.

3)  When ready, remove from the bag and place on a grill, George Forman grill, or grill pan.  Cook for ten minutes on each side.  Finish in the oven for another 20 minutes, checking for doneness.

Nutrition Facts (per serving) -- Calories: 175  Fat: 7 g  Protein: 22 g

Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Note:  This was my absolute favorite part of the meal.  Again, give yourself some time for this one, it's not a super quick recipe.

What You'll Need:

• 2 medium sweet potatoes (rinsed, peeled, and diced)
• 4 tablespoons 2% milk
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 4 tablespoons butter or butter substitute (I use Smart Balance)
• 1 tablespoon honey
• Dash of cinnamon

What To Do:

1)  Put the diced potatoes, 2 tablespoons of milk, the sugar, salt, and 3 tablespoons of butter in a covered pot on the stove.

2)  Cook on low for 45 minutes to 1 hour.  Do not turn heat above medium-low or the potatoes will scorch.

3)  The potatoes will be ready when they can be easily pierced with a fork.

4)  Mash the potatoes with a potato masher, add the honey, the rest of the milk and butter, and the cinnamon.

Nutrition Facts (per serving) -- Calories: 250  Fat: 10 g  Protein: 4 g  (note...this is if you use butter substitute, the calories and fat will be more if you use regular butter).

Sautéed Asparagus with Parmesan

What You'll Need:

• 8 spears of asparagus, rinsed
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 4 tablespoons parmesan cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic, minced

What To Do:

1)  Heat the olive oil and garlic over medium heat.

2)  Season the asparagus with salt and pepper.

3)  Add the asparagus to the pan and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, until tender but still crisp.

4)  Add parmesan and toss.

Nutrition Facts (per serving) -- Calories: 175  Fat: 10 g  Protein: 6 g

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

There you have it!  I hope you enjoy it!  If you need any help or have questions, just let me know.

Until Next Time...

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

-Tyler

Good Thursday Morning to You...

Hi Everyone!

So, this week has been okay thus far as we start back with the diet.  I didn't make it to the gym yesterday, I had class and a make up test, and a meeting I was leading last night, so I didn't have time.  I also didn't make it this morning, but I have walking class in about 30 minutes, so I'll get it in there.  Other than that, eating well has been fine, not too tough.  I just feel so much better when I'm eating the right things and exercising, I love it!

Last night I made a really yummy dinner last night of grilled pork chops, mashed sweet potatoes and sauteed asparagus.  I will post the recipes, nutrition facts, and pictures later for you to enjoy and make for yourself!  It's a delicious and filling meal, with a lot of ''good for you'' items, all under 600 calories!

Until Next Time...

----------

-Tyler

Weight Loss Winners...

As Wednesday starts out I wanted to share a fun article with you that I found on MSN this morning about Weight Loss Winners.  The article shows the stories of 5 men and a little bit about how they lost weight.  It's pretty inspiring.


Have a great day everyone!


Until Next Time...


----------


-Tyler

Tis Tuesday...

So, I wrote yesterday letting you all know that I would be starting back on the diet plan and I can report today that it is going very well.  I did my weight in, went to the gym, and did some grocery shopping.  We got a ton of fresh fruits and veggies, it is good to see the house stocked with peppers, onions, peaches, bananas, grapes, asparagus, berries, spinach, and avocado.  On the protein front we purchased chicken, pork chops, fish, shrimp, and tofu.  And then there are eggs, organic milk, cheese, yogurt, a ton of Lean Cuisines, and various other snacks and such.  I looooooove food, so I had to be sure that the house is stocked with yummy, yet nutritious, items.

The gym is going well too, I just love how I feel after I work out.  So refreshed and good about myself.  It's great!

Well, today instead of just rambling about myself I figured I would share an interesting article that I found on Yahoo!  The article addresses childhood obesity and the amount of snacking that American kids do.  It says that "U.S. children eat an average three snacks a day on top of three regular meals, a finding that could explain why the childhood obesity rate has risen to more than 16 percent, researchers said on Tuesday."  Wow!  That's a lot of chips, cookies, juice boxes, and fruit.  I feel like snacking is good for me at times because it helps me not overeat when it does come meal time, but I guess it's important to keep them to a minimum  and not eat too much when snacking.

Until Next Time...

----------

-Tyler

Good afternoon everyone!

So, I went to the gym this afternoon and weighed myself, and was surprise to find the following...

My weight, as of March 1 is:

313 pounds

A loss of 1 pound from last week!

So, despite the crappy eating and lack of exercise from last week, I still lost weight!  That is exciting, haha.  But, I am back on track from here, trying to reach my goal of losing 35 pounds by graduation.  I have 10 weeks until then, so we will see how much I can lose in that amount of time.  I have lost 6 pounds since I began on January 11, averaging out to 1 pound a week since then.  I would be content with being below the 300 pound mark by graduation, but I will still strive to lose 29 more pounds by then, that's an average of 3 pounds a week, which is doable.

I did notice something over the past few weeks, when I was eating poorly and not exercising, and that is that I felt horrible.  My headaches came back, my back and legs started to hurt again, my stomach was yucky...all the issues that were reconciled with proper eating and regular exercise came back as soon as I started drinking soda, quit exercising, and gave up.  If for nothing else, I have to do this because I feel better...soooooo much better!

Until Next Time...

----------

-Tyler