Week 13 at QWLC, Last weigh in

Sooooo, it is my last week* at QWLC on the main diet plan. After 13 weeks of a strict diet, supplements and lots of water my total weight loss is 24 lbs! (or a good S-H-I-T away from 25 lbs, which is what I like to say around the office...)

Here are the stats:
13 Weeks (3 Months)
24 lbs (1.85 lbs/week average)
6 inches in Waist
4 inches in Hips
4 inches in Chest
3 sizes in pants (14/16 to 10)
Size 10/12 dress size (from a 16)

What was easy: Drinking lost of water and giving up coke
What was hardest: Avoiding my favorite things to eat like Crazy Bread and Toffee candies (which both I had 2-3 times over the last few months... oh well...)
Where I didn't cheat: Breakfast. I have not had one McGriddle with hash browns in 3 months... and don't intend on it!
Where I did cheat: I love my red wine too much
What I am going to do differently over the next few months: Stay true to no fast food, no fried foods, no packaged/processed food

Although I did not make my goal of losing 40 lbs YET, I am so proud of myself for actually close. I am healthier, more confident, and I am wearing a pair of size 10 skinny jeans today!

For those of you that have not been following the last few weeks, here is my official "Before" pic:

And here is a pile full of clothes that are too big more me (mostly pants, sized 12-16):

It doesn't look very big in the picture but it is a PILE. It comes up to the seat of the chair and consists of about 15 pairs of jeans, a few pairs of "work pants" and a couple of tops.

As far as my disclaimer at the top goes, this is where I start ranting and raving. I need to talk about next steps with QWLC. I went in to weigh today during lunch and just about lost it on a sassed-mouth employee that was obviously having a bad day. 

Last week I went in and talked to this really sweet lady about next steps. I told her that when my 13 weeks was up with them, I just wanted to get through Christmas time not worrying about everything I consume, have fun and then continue to lose weight after the New Year. She agreed with me and said that sounded good, and I could go on "stabilization" (adding back in more food/regular foods) when I was ready. 

I came in today and was told that I either had to pay to keep losing more weight or I had to go on stabilization now. I asked "well, what if I lose weight while I am on stabilization?" and was told that I should not be losing any weight because I should be eating more food. So they basically have me in a  trap to where I have to keep a food diary, check in with them every week, and if I lose any weight I have to go back on the diet and pay them for the weeks I lose weight. 

Can I get a "HEEEEELLLLLLL, NOOOOO!"

And then she proceeds to ask me if I would have any challenges this weekend to stay "on plan" and I said yes... Denny's grandmother's macaroni pie! And she asks what I plan on doing to stay on plan and I wanted to shove my food diary where the sun don't shine. Do they REALLY expect people to be good at Christmas???

I know the diet works, I know the accountability works, I know the supplements do help but don't EVEN tell me I have to pay you to continue to lose weight. I WILL continue to do this on my own. It is a lifestyle change that I am used to, and my family as well! Yes, I cheated, yes, I drank alcohol, yes, I ate my Christmas cookies my grandmother made me. Shut up BITCH! At least I know that I will keep the weight off because I made better choices and lost 1-2 lbs a week (doctor recommended) vs. their 3-5 lbs. 

I bought my supplements and left cussing her under my breath. 

Merry Christmas everyone. I love you all and thanks for the support. I am going to keep going after the New Year (and try to be as good as possible over the next few weeks.)

Jeans Party

The other night I decided to have a "jeans trying on" party because my favorite pair of jeans from Old Navy are just flat worn out. I have worn them and my "jeggings" just about everyday since happily waving bye-bye to my 14's. The seams around my inner thighs were wearing pretty thin and I was growing weary of a major wardrobe malfunction at work one day soon.

I have a pile of jeans in my closet I have not touched since I got pregnant with Logan over 2 years ago. I had no idea what size they were or what they looked like, so I had a little trying on session. Side note: It's amazing what you realize you have in your closet when you do this.

Come to find out, they are all 12's! I thought they were 10's. I don't know why I thought they were 10's because I have not been in a size 10 since about 2003.

And the better news is... THEY ALL FIT... or were on the verge of being TOO BIG! It didn't matter what brand, cut or shape, they fit. My GAP Long and Lean jeans were my favorite and they fit great. I wore them the next day to work and they "grew" throughout the day. That's a good sign that I am on my way to a 10!

By the way, I am rounding up week 7 with QWLC and have lost a total of 19 lbs. When they measured me last (almost 2 weeks ago) I had lost 1" in my hips, 4" in my waist and 1-1/2" in my chest! Since that measurement, I have lost about 6 lbs. so I will be measured again this coming Monday and hopefully have more good news to report!

Speaking of QWLC... I hit a plateau really fast. I had a hard time getting past about 12 lbs. Right now I am averaging 2.7 lbs. a week. They moved me down to "Plan 2" which means no more eggs in the a.m. (thank God, I hated cooking one every morning) so my diet consists of:

Breakfast: 1 fruit, one starch (Toast with cinnamon and diet butter, and grapes) vitamins, 4oz. skim milk, QuickBoost
Snack: Drink mix (I am loving the Hot Chocolate) and a fruit (apple, usually)
Lunch: Protein and 2 Veggies, 1 starch (Like today, I had Chicken Breast and Zucchini "fries" (breadcrumbs), QB
Snack: Protein Bar (Caramel Crunch has consistently been my favorite) and a fruit
Dinner: Protein, 2 Veggies (Like tilapia or salmon with mixed veggies)

Seems pretty boring right. It is, but it's worth it.

10:04 PM - Day 1

I promise not to post so often in one day but I wanted to let you know how I am feeling right now after a day of "the cleanse."

Right now is the time I usually go and microwave me a plate of cheese crackers and sit on the couch with the hubster until I go to bed. But honestly, I don't know if it's in my head or a high from all the support, I am not hungry. I am thirsty and I just drank my 6th or 7th bottle of water today.

Dinner wasn't as bad as I anticipated in my last post. Denny did do me a solid and didn't cook. He ate leftovers from last night and I made the kids a little mac and cheese with veggies and didn't sneak any. I, on the other hand, ate more turkey deli meat, and half a sack of lighty steamed green beans and a small salad with balsamic vinegar on it (and I sat back and imagined it was on some yummy bread and not leaves...). It wasn't too bad because I LOVE me some balsamic vinegar. I will do that instead of the DISGUSTING Red Wine Oil and Vinegar Dressing I bought from Kroger last night.


Right now I feel (on a scale of 1 -10):
Energy Level: a 9, but I DO feel like I can go to sleep, no Jitters
Motivation: a 10, Thanks to all my support here and on Facebook
Nerves: an 8, I am calm and content
Stomach: a 7, I do want to eat, but I am not hungry, it's a habit I have to break
Pee: a 10?, I did a LOT of it today, like I was 8 months preggo again
Poop: a 9? Only once, I didn't want you to think this was THAT kind of cleanse, but it would have been nice to have a good shit or 2

Okay, I won't share that every day.

Reasons for Weight Loss:
I want to be skinny and cute
I want to be healthy for my kids and family
I want to be healthy for my future and be a good example to my kids
I want shop in the Mediums at Marshall's and Jacque Pennet (JC Penney)
I want to buy size 8 pants again (or a 6 would be fine)
I wanna shop in the Juniors section if I feel so inclined
I want to feel sexy in bed and not cover up my stomach all the time
I want better self-esteem
I want to wear a hottie Halloween costume next year
I want to feel cute at the pool next year
I want to share clothes with my mom and best friend
I don't want to be the fat chick on my team at work
I don't want to weigh more than my brother
I don't want fat rolls!
I don't want a double chin in my reflection when I look down at my phone to make a call

So at the end of Day 1, I say Mission Accomplished! I feel good and energized and because I didn't drink any soft drinks, and eat sugar and salty foods, I don't have that horrible "cut off my circulation" waist band tonight from my jeans and I don't look 4-5 months pregnant. Well, I do a little bit, but it is only Day 1 right? ;)

Day 1 of "Cleanse"

Okay, so I officially started today if I did not mention that yet. Today was Day 1 of 3 of the "cleanse" portion of the program. So let me tell you how it is going.

For breakfast I had 2 eggs with Lite Morton's Salt (required 1/4 Tsp a day to prevent muscle cramps) and poured the Lemon-Lime "Boost" powder in my water bottle and downed it. Neither were too bad, and I instantly felt full and energized when I got to work AND I was a bit of a chatty-kathy. But mission accomplished, I was full and satisfied. I have to say that the Lemon-Lime powder mixed in my VOSS water bottle looks a bit like that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Ooze from when we were kids.

Snack: About 11:00 I was getting hungry, so I ate my 1/2 orange as directed, with my choice #1 of 2 protein supplements (an Orange-Pineapple protein drink). An orange is hard to eat at your desk, and I never eat oranges so I was getting it all over my face and juice is dripping down my shirt. I guess I need more practice. The protein drink smelt protein-y, and it tasted just okay. Glad I got the variety pack so I can try a different one tomorrow.

Lunch: At 1:00 I ate my "unlimited amount of protein" which I ate a few slices of turkey sandwich meat, and my "unlimited amount of green raw salad veggies" which was Italian Lettuce mix (on Manager's special, go Kroger!) and some broccoli and oil and vinegar dressing. Meh... but I was full. I also drank another Lemon-Lime boost mix/ooze, as directed.

Snack: I ate my other 1/2 of an orange as directed, making a mess of myself again, and then it was choice #2 protein supplement snack. This was a protein bar called Caramel Brownie. I have had protein bars before and I knew it wasn't anything to be excited about, BUT BOY WAS I WRONG! Ladies, ladies, ladies, this protein bar was a piece of heaven! It was like eating a 500 calorie Little Debbie snack. I enjoyed all 4 bites of it.

For dinner tonight I have to have a repeat of lunch. An "unlimited amount of protein" and an "unlimited amount of green salad veggies". Going home is what I get worried about because I know there is wine and cheese and snacks for the kids, and Denny is probably making something fabulous for dinner that I won't be able to eat. So think of me as I try to complete Day 1 without cheating.

Tomorrow starts Day 2 and I repeat the same ol' thing. But I go to my nutrition class at QWLC to find out what I can eat after the "cleanse".

Thanks for the support bloggers!