Dangerously Wonderful

Hey bloggies...

I had a slice of home-made chocolate strawberry cheesecake today and it truly scared the living daylights out of me. It was sooooooooooooo good, that it was dangerously wonderful!!! Wonderful because the flavors just erupted on my tongue - it was amazing, and the texture was OH MY GOSH!!. In yesterday's post, I mentioned that I had a choco-mint hard candy and could not stand the sweetness...well let me tell you I HAD NO PROBLEMS with this piece of sweetness today. I guess the fact that this cheesecake was home made had something to do with the wonderful taste versus the processed candy!!

I said it was DANGEROUSLY wonderful because of just how good it tasted. I immediately wanted another piece and that serioiusly scared me!! Why was I not satisfied with the one piece...I wasn't hungry or anything, at that point it was all about the taste in my mouth!! I had to have a little mental pep talk with myself so that I wouldn't have another piece and thankfully I didn't. It's almost like I had a glimpse of "Joania before" who would have had 2 slices and possibly 3, depending on the size!! I'm glad I was able to refuse but it got me thinking...I have to stay on top of this game plan, this LIFE PLAN!! I allowed myself a piece and that should be it!

This week will be full of all sorts of yummy temptations with all the goodies and treats around to help "celebrate" the season and all the parties, luncheons and get-togethers! :) I in no way want to deprive myself of anything but at the same time, I DO NOT WANT TO (nor will I) GO OVERBOARD!! I've worked too hard for this! So the plan for this week is making smart, healthy choices and moderation!! Especially when it comes to those "dangerously wonderful" treats! :) I will make sure that I always have healthy snacks (like almonds) that I can nibble on to prevent me from nibbling on Hershey's Kisses, or Turtles, or Pot of Gold chocolates or all those wonderful French-Canadian traditional Christmas treats - like my favorite, home-made "sucre a la creme", which when translated means "creamed sugar (fudge)" YUMMMMMMMM-O!!! :D

Okay so other than the cheesecake, today was great food wise. Oatmeal and egg whites for breakfast, protein drink for morning snack, garden salad with tuna for lunch, baked sweet potato, steamed broccoli and sauteed shrimp for supper. I drank 3 litres of water today. I may have a snack later (apple or a cup of tea or something!!)

Exercise
Today was Jiu-jitsu...amazing class. I learned how to do a take down after blocking a punch to the face followed by the figure 4 leg lock today! It was awesome!! Great workout!

Tomorrow should be an awesome day. There will be the Christmas Party at the martial arts studio I attend (Therien Martial Arts). The owner, Sensei Derek, is hosting this party for all the members. I think it's a really nice gesture and I'm really looking forward to it...I will fill you in and maybe even take pictures so you all can get a glimpse of my Sensei Derek!!!

That's it for today...can't believe Christmas is only 3 days away!! INSANE!! I still have some shopping to do! :)

Unil next time...
Joania (2KMINE!!!)

Day 3 of My 30 Day Countdown

I had the day off today but you'd never know it!! This is the first real moment I've had to sit down today. I woke up at 5am to workout (weight training), made breakfast and got my son off to daycare. I then took my husband to a dentist appointment. By the time I dropped him off at work, it was time for my lunchtime kickboxing class. It was a great class - good workout!! Before I knew it, it was time to pick up my son from daycare, prepare dinner, take him to his Jiu-jitsu class and come home. Just finished cleaning the kitchen and will soon be off to bed! Busy day!!

I FEEL great, I'm a bit tired but, I had so much energy today. I'm so excited!! I was just thinking and so far this week, I have TURNED DOWN so many bad foods - resisted so many temptations. I'm so proud of myself. At a team meeting, there was a package of the most decadent looking and smelling chocolate truffles. I could have had as many as I wanted, yet I refused. I'm not going to let a stupid little truffle get in my way!!! I also turned down oatmeal raisin cookies and chips!!

Bottom line is so far (an I intend to continue this way), I have been eating like a champ - clean and healthy while exercising proper portion control. I know I still have about 30 days to go but I'm taking it one day at a time and I will make each of those days the best that I can! I'm making sure that I consume enough water throughout the day (approx 3-4 litres)! I have been on point with working out. I am hoping that translates well on the scale come Saturday!! :)

Anyway, that's all for tonight, I really need to hit the sack, because as my trainer Rob says, getting enough rest each night is a very important part of the successful fitness/weightloss process!!

Today's breakfast - 3 boiled eggs (whites), sliced small tomato, water

AM Snack - Protein shake (whey protein powder, water)

Lunch - garden salad (from Subway) with, lettuce, extra cucumbers, green peppers, onions, grilled chicken breast, pepper and a bottle of water

Afternoon Snack - 1 small baked sweet potato with 1/2 can of tuna, water

Dinner - Dinner was great y'all. I made a curried shrimp and cabbage stirfry (with left overs for tomorrow's lunch). I took pix which I'll post tomorrow.

I'm have a cup of green tea (unsweetened) right now!!

That's it!! until next time...
Joania (2MINE!!!)

Temptations in Edmonton

Holy crap, I'm struggling y'all!!! Every where I turn, there is some form of temptation. I'm in a constant mental battle to stay on the straight and narrow!!! Arrrrrrrrrgggggggghhhhhhhhh!!

I'm staying at this great hotel, with great food ( a lot of healthy choices) HOWEVER, there are also sooooooooooo many temptations for example:

1. Everyday from 430 to 530 pm, the hotel provides a FREE wine and cheese for all its guests!! Everyday!!! Now the cheese isn't bad, but FREE alcohol as well as breads and crackers, OH MAN!!!
2. Another hotel, just around the corner from where I'm working hosts a "Chocoholic Buffet" every Thursday and Friday nights - it's an all-you-can-eat chocolate buffet. These delectable offerings include an array of luscious cakes and pies, chocolate fondue and more.. how can one resist, well so far I have (I must be crazy!!)
3. Fabulous restaurants and pubs all over the place.

I'm fighting to stay true to the journey, but I must tell you, it's difficult...anyway, I don't have much time so this will be a quick post, however I will return as soon as I gt a chance.

Until then...

Joania (2KMINE!!)

I'm BACK and I WAS BAD!!!

Hi everyone,


Another successful business trip done and over with (until the next one). I'm so glad to be home, very tired and thankfully the weather here is just beautiful (25 degrees celcius)!! I plan to sit in my back yard and veg today!! May go for a walk later this evening!

I tried so very hard to stay on track...didn't miss a workout...it's not too difficult when the hotels afford you top of the line fitness facilities, so that part was no problem....HOWEVER, those hotels and nearby RESTAURANTS also afford you top of the line FOODS!!! That's the problem!!!! My first two days, I did very well, stayed on track for MOST of the time, but I STRAYED a bit.

I don't know what it was, but this time I just found it so difficult to stay totally true to the diet....as I mentionned, I killed the workouts, but the diet got me!! As I said at the very beginning of this blog, I WILL BE HONEST and not only with successes but "slip-ups" as well. I do not consider this a failure and I've already put it behind me and after I finish this post, I will take it out of my mind altogether. So here comes the honesty - with pictures!!

Anyway, my flight was at 2:00pm that day. I woke up, did my exercises, had breakfast (3 scrambled egg whites with green peppers & onions), dropped my son off to daycare with and extra long hug and kiss, and went off to work. Left work for airport. I had a chicken wrap for lunch (which I grabbed at a restaurant at the airport)....wasn't good with my snacks. By the time I got checked into hotel, I was starving!! Here's a pic of my dinner on night 1.

This is steamed veggies (spinach, green and yellow beans, red peppers, olive oil, garlic) served with a fish called, "cobia". Never heard of this fish before but it was delicious - white, meaty and quite flavourful. I also had a glass of H2O with this meal. It was great ..restaurant was Canyon Creek! Sorry picture quality not so great...I didn't use flash - pretty good for my phone's camera, though.

The next morning we (my colleagues and I) had breakfast at the hotel restaurant and then checked out as we were off to a different city for more meetings. The breakfast was buffet style and offered lots of healthy options. I had just worked out and was very hungry!

A hard-boiled egg and a slice of cheese -which I wrapped up and put in my purse to eat as my morning snack a few hours later.

Breakfast: Scrambled eggs, two small turkey sausages, small bowl of fruit (did not eat grapes - extra sour) and a glass of water. Then went off to my conference meeting.

Lunch was provided so choice was limited however, I believe I made the best of it by having the following:

This is a garden salad, sprinkled with feta cheese (just a little, as you can see) with 1/2 of a whole wheat tortilla wrap (thinly sliced oven-roasted turkey breast, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese) and about a litre of water.

After conference, we drove to our next destination and checked into our hotel, got settled and went out for dinner. We found this great restaurant where I had a steak with a salad and some baked sweet potato fries (sorry didn't get a pic) but it was goooooood!! Sometimes, I feel a little funny taking pix of my food depending on where I am and how packed the place is. Anyway, this is where the problems started. I shared some fried calamari with my colleagues...they were delicious!! I also had DESSERT!!!! There were three of us and we shared two desserts!! I know I should have been stronger but just reading the options on the menu made me want it so bad!! I just couldn't resist - well, I probably could resist but I didn't!! AND OMG, was it ever yummy!!! They were delicious - I did manage to get a pic of that (the restaurant had emptied at that time)....

This is one of them - no words can do this justice so I'll just let you look at it. All I need to say is CHOCOLATE!!

Here's the other dessert......

Cheesecake with Chocolate

As I mentionned earlier, these beauties were "shared".....I'm certain I had the most of my colleagues.....here's a pic, showing that we did share them - please take note of the THREE forks!

SIN-sharing!!

EVIL!!(but tasty)...

The next morning I woke up, feeling guilty but not as guilty as I thought I would and I don't know if that's good or bad but I decided to forget about it and get my workout done....and I did. Met with my colleagues and we went off to the Market Fresh for breakfast. I had an eggwhite and vegetable omlet with water. I was back on track!! :)

It was quite good (green pepp, mushrooms, onions)

Anyway, I am now back on track with my eating but I know that my "slip-ups" may have affected my weigh-in. I've just weighed in this morning as I wasn't able to on Wednesday. My next post will show the results of my sins! Stay tuned..

Until next time...

Joania (2KMINE!!!)

ST. PATTY'S & MY GIRLFRIEND JB....

This individual has been my friend for 20+ years and together, we've done a lot of fun and crazy things which will bring us to tears as we laugh about it, to this day!! It doesn't take much to get us going! I cannot imagine my life without her...anyway, this is not intended to be a sappy post. I can just see her face as she reads this laughing to herself and probably saying, "I can't believe she's writing about me and our craziness in her blog!!" or something to that effect!

Anyway, JB and I absolutely LOVE St. Patrick's Day!!! Well, maybe it's more the festivities that we like because if any one of us were quizzed on the history or origin of St. Patty's - we'd fail miserably!! I'm certain all of our responses would include either "leprechaun" or "green beer"!! It has been our longstanding tradition of just getting together and "doing it up right" on St. Patty's Day. For us, the festivities usually starts very early in the afternoon and goes strong until the wee hours of the morning!!

In the past, this involved the consumption of "a few" beverages, followed by a few more and so on and so on until very early the following morning where we'd ALWAYS end up asking the taxi driver to take us to the 24-hour drive thru McDonalds, where we ordered a massive amount of greasy, fatty food. I'm talking, double Big Macs, Supersize Fries, Coke and Apple Pies!!! I swear, it's the only thing we wanted to eat after a day on the "liquid diet" and it was just AMAZING! Can anyone relate to this, or are we just nuts?? Anyway, that's how we would normally spend St. Patty's Day, in the past!

This Year...

I will be in Edmonton on business on St. Patty's Day!! This year, on St. Patty's Day, I will have just completed my third straight month on this wonderful journey following a highly effective, customized diet and exercise plan which does not include my traditional "St. Patty's Day Food and Beverage Choices"!!!! THIS YEAR, on St. Patty's Day, although I will be in Edmonton, SO WILL MY GIRLFRIEND JB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't know if was fate or if it was planned (I WILL never tell!!) but we will BOTH be in Edmonton on St Patty's Day and I think it was meant to be...

Oh, what to do????

First off, my girlfriend in no way wants to sabbotage my journey and has been extremely supportive from the very beginning and even before!! So "what I do" will be totally my decision...we could have a good time either way..Honestly, there is no pressure from her at all!! I just don't want anyone thinking that she's sabbotaging me in anyway!!!

So here are some facts:

1. I have been just amazing on this diet and exercise plan, and for the most part (except those 4 choc eggs recently), I've stayed true.
   
2. I didn't have cake or alcohol on my 35th birthday!!
   
3. I didn't have any chocolate on Valentine's Day!!
   
4. So far this year I've done very well and 3 months is a very long time.
   
5. I have all intentions of remaining on this journey and reaching my goals by Dec 2009!

I've always said that I don't want this new lifestyle to consume me and I also don't want to miss out on my life and things I enjoy doing because of it even though I realize and accept that I do have to make a lot of sacrifices and give up certain things....so I'm in yet another position where I have to make a huge decision regarding either food, chocolate, alcohol or all of the above!!! I also don't want to always have to be in these types of positions. I want to be able to just live and enjoy my life while respecting the boundaries of my program. It's all about finding that balance and learning how to live within it....I think that's a bigger struggle than losing the weight, itself - for me anyway!

So that's it for now....as always, I will be honest in whatever I do; with whatever decision I make regarding St. Patty's Day!! You will be informed...either way!!

Until next time...

Joania (2KMINE!!!)

Week 12 Weigh-In..... 3 MORE Pounds Down!!!!

Starting Weight: 258 lbs (Dec 10/08)
Last Weigh In: 230 lbs (Feb 25/09)
Current Weight: 227 lbs
This Week's Loss: 3 lbs

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I'm in the 220's!!! 227!!!! 227!!! YEAH BABY!! I think it was roughly 5-6 years ago when I last weighed in the 220's!!

Alright!!! I'm about to start my 12th week of this journey!! WOW!!! and I'm down 31 pounds in total!!!!!!!!!!!31 pounds!!! Incredible.

So I hit a little "bump" yesterday ( well 4 little chocolate ones) but as my trainer said, it messed with my head more than my body and just forget about it and that's what I've done. It never happened! LOL!!!

So here I am about to wrap up three months and start a whole new awesome phase in this journey and I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!! Next week will be 3 month pictures!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Signing off weighing 227 POUNDS, having lost a grand total of 31 POUNDS!!!!! Yeah, I'm thrilled!!

Joania (2KMINE!!)

That Feking Easter Bunny!!!!!!!!!!!

So I survived Christmas!! I survived a trip out of province!! I survived Valentine's Day AND I EVEN SURVIVED MY F'ING BIRTHDAY!!!!!! What got me????????? THAT FEKING EASTER BUNNY!!!!!

This is my confession y'all!!!!

Yesterday I stopped in at a grocery store to pick up a few things and it's everywhere!!! Easter colours...there's always been something about Easter colours and decorations that send tingles down my spine!! I know what it is, it's the CHOCOLATE!!! THE CHOCOLATE!!!!!!!

Anyway, I resisted, got my groceries and went about my business.

Forgive me "trainer" for I have sinned....

Well today, I needed "something" from the Pharmacy...you know, the stuff all us women need to pick up on a monthly basis...damn crappy, crap!!! Yes, I am a bit moody today, but I digress.

Anyhoo, wouldn't you know that as soon as I walked into that pharmacy, I bump into MR Bunny and all his wonderful chocolate eggs and chocolate bunny and chicken friends looking all great and tasty. "No Joania, ignore the chocolate, get what you came for and go back to the car!!"

I managed to some how make it to the cash register, payed the bill and grabbed my bag which the nice cashier packed and handed to me! "Have a good day!" she said, as I hopped into the car where my son and husband were waiting!! My husband dropped us off and went back to work. My son and I went on in the house. He went immediately to his toys as I proceeded to unpack my bag from the pharmacy!!

"OH MY GOODNESS!!! WHAT IS THIS DOING IN HERE??!?!?!" see pictures below...

If you noticed from the second picture, the bag is opened, and if the bag is opened, you can bet your last dollar, that a few are missing!! YES!! I HAD 4 OF THOSE WONDERFUL LITTLE MISERABLY DELICIOUS EGGS!!! 4 OF THEM!! IT'S ALMOST LIKE I COULDN'T STOP MYSELF AS I FEVERISHLY UNWRAPPED EACH COLOURFUL FOIL!! THEY WERE SOOOOOOOOOOOO SWEET, BUT ENJOYABLE NONTHELESS!!! OH MY GOODNESS I LOVE CHOCOLATE!! I LOVE CHOCOLATE!! OH CRAP, REALITY....JOURNEY...DIET......

I decided to come and write about this, so I could get a hold of myself and get back on track here!! But here's the problem, "THEY'RE NOW IN MY HOUSE!!!!" I've got to get rid of them...but my son loves them...can't keep 'em here...just can't!!! oh what to do...garbage..i'll throw them out....okay....yeah..I'll throw them out. Yeah, that's what I'll do..okay..I'll come back on later!!

I knew it would happen sooner or later but I just never knew how it would happen and here we are !!! Oh well.....

Until next time...

Joania (2KMINE!!!)

I'm 35 and Feeling FINE!!

What an interesting birthday!! I must share all...I must come clean...I must be honest....so here we go....



What did you eat Joania??????????


Well, we all have only one life to live and my philosophy is, "You better enjoy it!!"


Below you will find a list of statements of events that occured on my birthday. At the end of the post, you will find whether these statements are true or false.....

1. I started off my day by skipping my morning workout - slept in an extra hour


2. I had my regular healthy breakfast.


3. I had a special birthday lunch with my colleagues at work (including my friend Kim who was "BORN TO BAKE").


4. At work, I ate a piece of cake so large, it could qualify as a small cake to some.


5. I went to my favourite restaurant for dinner and "went wild".


6. I had more cake (this time DQ Icecream cake) when I got home.


7. I worked out in the evening!


8. I cracked a bottle of wine, had a few glasses and went to bed drunk!


9. I decided that a chocolate bar wouldn't hurt..yummmy.


10. I ENJOYED my day!

So what do you think? How did I do? Well here are the facts.

1. TRUE - I did skip my morning work out...one of my birthday gifts to my self was to sleep in and it felt awesome. I gave myself a one day break...back on schedule though, just finished my workout.


2. TRUE - I did have a healthy breakfast - I figure, why not start the day right!


3. TRUE - Now, although I did have lunch with my girls, and Kim did bake this chocolate chip, cream, graham cracker crumb number which looked amazing and smelled even better, and there was also some sort of poppy seed with cream icing cake, I RESISTED!!!! I had a grilled chicken wrap with a bit of gralic sauce and water for lunch - it was delicious! I still can't believe I resisted those desserts, but I did - it wasn't easy.


4. This one could be TRUE and FALSE. Had I eaten a piece of cake, it WOULD have been as large as a small cake. I did not have any cake at work!!!


5. My favourite (well one of) is a little Italian restaurant on Preston (Trattoria Cafe). The lasagna made fresh daily with home made pasta and sauces is to die for. 1 half order of lasagna, 1 half order of creamy fettuccine alfredo, warm freshly baked bread, a glass of white wine and chocolate mousse for dessert - is what I would have ordered had I gone there for supper but I didn't so the answer is FALSE!!!!


6. FALSE - I HAD NO CAKE!!!!!!!( yes, i am a bit pissy about it - but whatever!:0(


7. FALSE - I decided..no working out on my birthday..I already wasn't having any cake so no working out!!!


8. I FRIGGIN WISH!!! FALSE - Not only did I not have any cake, I ALSO had no alcohol!! I'm making all impossibilities seem possible. I know a few of my friends were betting against me on this one!!


9. TRUE -I had a creamy, gooey Caramilk and it was awesome...THEN I WOKE UP FROM MY DREAM!!!!I had NO CHOCOLATE!!


10. TRUE - Even without my usual vices of chocolate, cake and alcohol, I still enjoyed my day. I received so many wonderful birthay wishes and hugzzz, it was great. My team at work took me to lunch on Thursday (where I had a wonderful meal- grilled chicken breast over salad), great company and just a nice time -all in my honour - thanks guys. I also enjoyed lunch with my lunch girls yesterday - as always, wonderful conversation and great company. My husband and son were the first to wish me happy birthday and give me my cards and gifts...what's sweeter than a two year old singing "Happy Birthday to Mummy", it was awesome. I received my birthday telephone calls from my friends and family abroad -spoke on the phone for 2 hours with one of them - we laughed so much. It was great. It was relatively warm for a February Winter day! I have no complaints..truly enjoyed my day! Different, but enjoyable nonetheless!

So there it is. I'm a woman of my word. I put up the Birthday Poll two weeks ago and said that majority would rule and it did. 42% of you wanted me to stay true to the journey and I did and it felt great doing it. But, more importantly, I did it for myself. I really feel that I am at a point where I no longer feel the need to sabbotage my progress - it takes a whole lot of effort and determination, but also wonderful support and encouragement!!

So I am 35!!!!!!!! 35!!!! I feel amazing and happy to be going full force on this journey.

Until next time.

Joania (2KMINE!!!)

Happy Love Day!!

Just wanted to pop in and say.....

Happy Valentine's Day!!

I hope the love continues throughout the year! No chocolates for me this year!! There's a first for everything!! :)

Arrrrrrrrggggggghhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!

Hi guys,

I am going nuts. I've just had a great week!! I lost another pound, lost a ton of inches, my clothes are loosening day by day, great workouts....everything is awesome BUT I just keep thinking of bad foods..it's driving me nuts and it's not because I'm not enjoying the healthy foods that I'm eating- I'm actually loving it...but my MIND is playing some serious games with me and i just don't know why!! I can't take it!! You should see me pacing around this house and what's even funnier, is that my son is following me around laughing (he thinks my pacing is a game - at least he's having fun!)

I find myself wanting to eat all sorts of things, like waffles, warm white bread dripping in butter, hot dogs, ice cream and WINE! WHY??? I don't know...this is just how I'm feeling. I have been drinking so much water today just to keep my tummy full in hopes that I won't want to eat anything!! Still not working!! I'm craving wine like it's nobody's business!!!! Chocolate cake!! Arrrrrghghghhhhh!! It's not that I'm hungry at all...I don't know man....today just sucks!! It really does. I guess this is just part of it. I don't like this part, don't like it at all! I had chicken breast and some roasted veggies (will post pic later) for dinner..it was delicious and satisfying but still not enough to shake these cravings.

I don't know what to do with myself right now - it's so frustrating.... I can't really go anywhere....I've got my 2 year old and it's mighty cold outside today...plus it's getting late..almost his bed time!! I just finished dancing with him (he loves dancing)....my goodness, if I had anything bad in the house to eat, it would be on right now!!

Part of me wants to say, "screw it!" and just pick up that phone and call Gabriel's (my fav pizza place - speaking of which, I need to take that number off speed dial) but I can't, I've come to far, worked to hard and I know this is a phase that won't last (HOPEFULLY) !! I just need to push through it...Damn!!!

Today is not fun.....today, this journey is getting on my nerves!!! That's all I got right now....

Joania (2KMINE!!! although right now a piece of chocolate cake would be FINE!!)

Chocolate Brain

Here we are approaching the end of yet another week. This week flew by for me. Tomorrow is already "Weigh In Wednesday" (that's what I'll be calling it from now on) and I just can't get over how quickly this week went by. I've been having so much fun reviewing those progress pics, especially the shot from the back!! Wow!

Anyway, I've been working really hard this week, trying to capitalize on the momentum and motivation gained from the pics. My workouts have been awesome, HOWEVER, I have been having some horrid cravings!! Bad ones, really bad; worse than when I was even pregnant!! I just can't get the thought of rich, milky, creamy chocolate off my mind. I know that's where it is ...ON MY DAMN MIND!!! My body doesn't need it or want it, but in my head, I just can't stop thinking about it. It's nuts, I find myself thinking of chocolate constantly!!! It's not just chocolate bars or pieces, I mean chocolate cake, chocolate ice cream, chocolate cheesecake....chocolate gosh darn bananas!!!! Am I crazy?? I must be crazy! I can literally close my eyes and taste it, but that's just not good enough. I've been chugging some serious water....NOT WORKING!!! I've brushed my teeth (okay mostly sucked toothpaste), several times...NOT WORKING!!! BTW, why hasn't Crest or Colgate created a chocolate flavoured toothpaste???? Or have they already done it and I'm just unaware??????????? It's now just a head game....I CAN NOT CAVE!

Even if I decide right this moment that I'm going to have some chocolate, I'm screwed, I've got nothing in this house. I'd have to get dressed, warm up the car, because it's freezing outside and then drive to the store...not worth it!! Is it?? No, not worth it!! Okay, I'm gonna have some almonds...before, I used to suck all the chocolate off of Chocolate Almonds and eat the nuts after.....maybe eating these raw almonds will trick my mind into thinking I've already had the chocolate.

AARRRRGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

Stronger than a BIG MAC!!!!

What a month! First, I'm so happy that the first month is over, I feel like I just jumped a major hurdle and am now accelerating towards that finish line (I know, I know, it's a long race)...but I'm building that endurance!! I must tell you guys that on Day one of this journey, I was soooooo scared and somehow thought that I may not make it to the end of this month. How was I going to get through 30 days with no chocolate, no coke (coca-cola, that is!), and no McDonalds???? In my mind I just knew I would crack and go to McDonalds. Well, here's what a month of discipline, hard work, and dedication has done for me:

I went to the McDonald's drive through today (why, I think I convinced myself that my son wanted it, or something), I rolled down my window and waited for that distorted voice to say, "welcome to McDonalds, may I take your order?" I took a deep breath and said, "uh, yeah, uh, can I uh have a 4-pc chicken nugget happy meal with apple juice for a boy (you gotta specify the gender so you get the right toy - my husband would definitely have that "WTF" look on his face if he walked in and saw our 2yr old son playing with a Barbie).

Anyway, the voice in the box then said, "anything else?"....there was a long, akward silence. In the past the next words out of my mouth would've been, "BigMac combo with supersize fries and a Coke, no ice please..oh and an Apple Pie (I always say, "OH and an apple pie" as if I forgot or something when I knew all along that I would order it). My mind was racing, I start rationalizing in my head, "it's just me and my two year old in the car, hubby's at work, won't be home for hours, I could eat and destroy the evidence before he even gets close to home, no one would ever know, he wouldn't even smell it" Again I hear, "Anything else???" .....I quickly answer, "uh, just a minute please", I continue thinking some more.

At this point I'm talking softly to myself, "Joania, what are you doing, say NO THANK YOU!! say NO THANK YOU!!! Remember your Journey, your journey!!!" The voice comes back on, "Ma'am, anything else?"....."Uh, I wou--, uh I don't think so!" She then tells me the total and I drive to the next window. I know I've been happy to see the McDonalds girl in the past but this time it was for a different reason. It wasn't because my mouth was salivating for that Big Mac, it was beacuase I stayed strong!! When she slid that little window to take the cash...I smiled and said like an idiot, "phew, I didn't order anything, I didn't order anything!" She looked at me with a puzzled face which I interpreted as, "please don't make me cancel this order". When I realized what I said, I quickly corrected myself and said, "I didn't order anything ELSE ..THANK YOU..." I'm such a dork!
Anyway, I drove to the next window, picked up the bag, which btw looked so small compared to the one's I got when I ordered food as well.

When we got home, I gave my son his McDonalds, AND HERE COMES THE SHOCKER, it DID NOT bother me one bit, I sat beside him eating my baked sweet potato, piece of grilled fish and some steamed veggies. IT was awesome, I felt so good and strong. I DIDN'T EVEN SWIPE A FRY, Y'ALL!!! Trust me, I'd tell you if I did...but I didn't even swipe a french fry, not one!! This may be no big deal for most, but for me...HUGE!!!

So that's why I say this month has made me so much stronger and seeing how far I've come, I really don't want to jeopardize that in anyway. Also, the thought of having to confess to all my blog readers is enough to keep me on the straight and narrow.

Anyway, just thought I'd share that. Also, I've received a lot of questions like, "16 pounds!!???!? What are you doing??" "That's a lot of weight, how did you do it??"" "16 pounds? wow, please share the secret!"

So I decided to be a bit more specific with what I'm doing. I'll write it up in my next post. Thanks for stopping by!!

J