Biggest Loser Match up Team Geo Jam Seattle Washington Roomates

Gasp i'm updating

Thu, 29 May 2008 06:15:41 GMT

I threw a bit of a hissy fit and haven't posted this last month because I kept NOT losing weight. Was driving me INSANE. I wasn't doing anything differently and I stalled out HARD. I bounced between 254-251 One week i'd be down a pound next up three down 1 up 1. Drove me INSANE.

BUT I finally broke through it. I think my body went psycho because I was at the big 250 Getting under 250 is HUGE for me. Well drumroll please. .....249. Yeah !!!!!!!!!! Finally broke through that barier. Now my body can behave and get back on track.

I have a ton of new recipies to post and such but I threw my back out. AGAIN so I need to go chill out for a little but needed to motivate myself to post and stop pouting :)

Georgia

This last week

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:47:13 GMT

I weighed myself yesterday alot surprised to find out I hadn't lost a bit. I'd been super careful about what I ate and only "Cheated" once. And that one wasn't really a cheat. I had the calories left since we'd been going all day and had only had a small small breakfast.

I'm wondering if i'm eatng to little. I'm eating EXACTLY what my roomies are eating except they'll go back for seconds or add a little mayo and I won't. So I'm wondering if maybe I need to eat a little more. One roomie lost 4 pounds. And Jamie 2. I'm sooooooooooo proud of them.

I know my metabalisms off because of the thyroid etc. But still I should be able to lose SOME weight lol.

We ordered Pizza monday. One PPizza hut natural and one small order of wings. Checked the calorie content and had a HUGE salad with it. We kept it within our calorie count for the day It was really nice to see hey we can have pizza and have it responsably. 2 slices of pizza and 2 wings each plus the salad was 530 calories. We ate lower calorie breakkfast and lunches and enjoyed it immensly.

We're going to the gym tonight. I've been so tired all week. It's so hard to get up the energy to go the the gym. Plus we've all been busy shopping housecleaning etc. But I've just been so tired. I'm not sleeping well and I'm not sure why. I think my body's just off whack.

I went ahead and upped my calories by 100 each day for now and am making sure I drink LOTS of water and don't miss a single thyroid pill. I'm gunna see how I do with that next week.

Georgia

Cute Picture

Sat, 19 Apr 2008 17:00:46 GMT

Nervous

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 17:19:35 GMT

Tomorow is the season Finally of Biggest Loser. I'm Really Nervous. The Daily tips are ending in a few days the finally is tomorow....My roomate isn't really interested in the site anymore and it's just scary. It feels like alot of the things that have helped keep me motivated are going away. I guess it's kind of like leaving campus. You have to find new motivations. I'm luckier then most Jamie still does want to eat right and my other roomate does. I am able to get back to the gym again. We went twice last week. So I have alot working for me. But alot of the things that really give me that push each week are going away. And some little changes are slipping in. Like for the longest time I could count on a 400 calorie dinner. So I could be flexible for breakfast and lunch and still have some calories left over for an after dinner snack. But our dinner calorie count is sneaking upbit by bit and a 500 calorie dinner is about half the time and a 600 calorie dinner happens a couple times a week. Plus everyone around me is doing seconds a whole lot more. and I just feel like Ihave to be hypervigual. I don't feel I have the flexability in breakfast and lunch I had before and we found skinny cow ice cream treats which is great but seems that that takes up the extra calories I get I only have them twice a week or so but still just regular wander into the kitchen and think about a snack hasn't happened in forever. i'm always in the no snack range already. I know it's not a big deal but those little changes are very scary. I see JUST how easy it would be to have 50 calories here 100 there and suddenly be gaining weight.

In some ways it's better because shopping healthy is just a habit. And I've proved to myself I can have ONE 100 calorie treat or ONE skinny cow instead of several. So I have more faith in letting myself snack. And with watching other people go back for seconds regularly and me not or me going back and getting more salad or veggies I feel more confident that I can be strong and make healthy descions.Having 2 roomates in the house means we come up with twice the recipie ideas. So I do have alot to be grateful for. It's just I see so many stumbling blocks around. I was hoping by now I'd have broken through those and just be "living it" But I really think this is going to be a life long battle. It's just to easy to slip back up into old habits.

On our road trip week I jumped back up 3 pounds. DEVISTATING. And we were pretty careful. We had one big meal out at an ice cream parlor. And then it was subway or what we got the rest of the time. And ONE trip to taco bell. And poof 3 pounds on. I'm back down those 3 pounds plus an additional pound an a half but still. It was ONE week and 3 pounds. That was just really scary. I'm really proud of myself though, I didn't slip back into obsessing. Just was very vigilant. I didn't let myself consitter under eating. I stayed at my minimum calorie count or above every day. So some of it's sticking.

I wish I knew a good place that gave healthy tips I could truely trust not like some of these off the wall idea's some places come up with. Oh and it was free. I'd join jillians site in a HEARTBEAT if I could afford it.

Can't wait for tomorows finale and dread it at the same time. Tuesday REALLY helped me stay focused and motivated. But my goal for myself this week is find SOMETHING else I can motivate myself with. Just something small. Not a crutch. Something to make my brain go each week...ok did I do what I needed to?

Georgia

Road trip video

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 22:53:08 GMT

A video we made on the road to utah.

This week

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 04:34:12 GMT

Yeah !! I made it back to the gym today. *Does a happy dance* I'm soooooooooooooooo happy. I missed it. I had to back way up on what I could do but I did it. I'm soo happy I really missed it. I did 10 minutes 1.3 miles on the excercycle and 2/3 of the strength machines

My backs fussing a little but it's ok.

I made a yummy dish tonight. "Green rice" I chopped some spinach in a food proceser and added some chicken brooth to it and cooked rice in it. Soo good. And had a bag of spinach in it to boot. We had it with baked chicken and broccili.Tomorow we're making Fish tacos. Tilapia with a cabbage slaw and a sauce of avacado fat free yogurt and lemon juice.

I'd been slacking off on my calorie intake and we cheated some on our road trip so I tighteneed up my calories again. It's been tempting to go back for seconds with everyone else but I just keep reminding myself it's taking a 350 calorie dinner and making it 700 calorie dinner. I've been super focused and super vigilant. I think it's gunna pay off next week.Im gunna kick it into high gear now that my back is only mildly sore not completly out.

OHHH I got AMAZING news

*Drum roll*

IIIII Won most weight lost for the quarter from the gym . I'm soo happy. Jamie hadnt logged her weight in time or I think she would have beat me but we were the top 2. I won ...ironic as it is....a dinner for 2 lol.

I blogged about our road trip but my dog deleted my post. No joke she got up and deleted the whole entry jumping on the keyboard. Cracked me up. I have video blogs for ya'll though.

CONGRATS to the winners of the challenge. Good work I'm reallly proud of you all.

Georgia

Road trip and show thoughts

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 04:57:59 GMT

Tomorow Jamie and I head off on a road trip to pick up our soon to be roomate Kay in Utah. She's a longtime friend relocating up here. Jamie stopped on the way home at the farmers market to stock up for the trip. Bananas Apples Raw veggies to munch etc. We also are bringing along peanutbutter cheese sticks 90 calorie granola bars our own cereal oatmeal packets and our waterbottles...The eco friendly refilable kind. So this should be a pretty healthy trip. Were planing one stop on the trip to leatherbies a utah creamery for lunch and ice cream. But we're budgeting our calories into it and it's our one trip splurge.

I haven't weighed myself today I'll have to do that tomorow or when I get back from the trip. I threw my back out last week and been couch or bed ridden all week. Finally bit the bullet and got muscle relaxers and POOF im feeling human again. Should have done that last week instead of suffering.

I was pleased to see the girls stay above the line. I want ally to make it through because she's done amazing. I want kelly to simply cause shes black team and Jillians my girl. I would like to see Mark make it too. I think like ally he deserves it.

My diet this week has been sorely lacking. Peanutbutter sandwitches cereal bars granola bars cheese sticks milk and prunes raisons and whatever jamie feeds me for dinner. During the day I eat what I could grab because I couldn't stand long enough to do ANYTHING. But she's been taking care of me at dinner. I'm SO glad my backs human again because Im so sick of that. After the road trip it's REAL meals again. I didn't even have it in me to nuke water for oatmeal. And I miss it !!

So if my back stays good until we get back from the road trip im gonna try the gym again monday *Crosses my fingers* between my back my heart my bronchitis I havent been near the gym in FOREVER. I miss it. So monday !! thats my goal

Oh PS....Im taking the video camera on the trip. So be prepaired for road trip videos...OHH and I tried on my favorite Skirt and top fit again !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Seee ya'll after our road trip

Georgia

Weigh in and show thoughts

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 16:44:17 GMT

And the official weight is.............255 Yeah !!! 21 pounds

We cheated hard easter but we planned it. We went to melting pot. We thought 1 really big calorie meal was better then nibbling away at candy for days. Was soooooooooo yummy. I didn't look at thier nutrition guide but im pretty sure it was a decent amount of Calories. Cheese fondue and chocolate fondue aren't exactly healthy. One day off got back on track the next day.

Our soon to be roomates moving down next week. Jamie and I have a plan to action with packing our food taking oatmeal packets instead of muffins included with hotel rooms hitting the farmers market before we go for snacks. We should be pretty good.

I tollllllllllllld Dan voting britney out was gunna bite him in the butt. He'd have had the girls on his side and the other one would have gotten voted out. To bad he can't hear me thru the tv lol. I was SO glad not to see a girl go. Maybe now the boys will play with a little bit of strategy instead of just relying on numbers.

off to the doctor to have my knee checked out and because my backs out. ouch. But whoooo 21 pounds !!!!!!!!!!!

Georgia

trying something

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 19:15:55 GMT

I've been testing out some changes in how I keep track of my calories. I'm trying to keep track mentally instead of using fitday. I'm pretty much a walking calorie counter so I'm seeing if I'm ready yet to do it on my own without puttng everything down. I decided the first time I go 2 weeks without losing I'll go back to fitday but until then I'm trying this in my head. If im not ready yet I'll keep logging there. My goal is eventually to have this so embeded in my brain I don't have to think about it constantly it becomes natural. I'm trying to change my thinking and habits not just lose the weight. I want to think like a thin person until my body catches on lol. I don't know if I'm gonna have any weight loss this week but more because I've been sick and for days all I could keep down was soup and gatoraid. So I dropped my calories REALLY low and then when I could eat I was at like 1600 for 2 days making up for it. So my metobolism is all out of whack. And the cold/flu REAPEARED so I'm sick again. Thats why I gave it 2 weeks to test it. And that gives me guidelines so I don't get complaciont. I'm hoping im ready for this. But if not try try again :)

Georgia

Weigh ins show thoughts and misc

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 01:13:16 GMT

Down another pound this week :) yeah I'm like 1/10 of a pound away from 20 pounds lost. It's soo tempting to claim it and say 20 lost but i'll go ahead and let that be last week since technicly I'm not there yet. *Sighs and tries to be patient*

I'm very happy. As I keep saying because it shocks me. This is a lifestyle I can maintain and slowly i'm losing the weight.

I had ANTHER cold this week and for about 3 days I lived on soup and gatoraid and an occasional skinny cow . Yesterday I was able to want real food and ate 4 sandwiitches. mostly because they were something I could eat and make quickly. So I got most of my calories from that. Allthough at one point I grabbed a bag of cut up mushrooms and zuchini and munched on those laying on the sofa under the covers. But today's much better. I had a oatmeal granola bar and sandwitch for lunch a glass of milk out and about and Jamies making stuffed low calorie peppers. Then I'll probably do some soup kater. Not an ideal day but really not bad for being sick and not able to mess around with meals. I don't think I dropped my calories to low at all.I kept mental track and except for the day my fever was the highest my calories were right at 1100. So one to low day and a bunch of borderline ones. Were talking about making Easter a higher calorie day and going out to eat so I figure that will Zap my metabolism back in shape. It's really nice to have this be such a lifestyle that I don't panic over a couple days anymore. It's like ok I got to low, now time to get back where I should be. It's not the blind panic it was at the begining of OH NO i'm going to ruin everything. Lol. I've learned that if I live this daily a few days sick won't sabatage me. It's very freeing.

I was so sad to see britney go home last night I loved brittney. And I so got her. I felt the pain of the 2 pound weight losses after working so hard. And I sympathised with being young and heavy. I indentified with her ALOT. And I felt sooooooo bad for her going home. Of all that have I hated seeing her go the most.

Dan I think just shot himself in the foot. Does he not realize he has a giant target on him? Now that they got the "Empty votes" down they can start picking off the strong men one at a time. The brothers will always vote together and the other guy will always do whatever he can to stay in it. This week would have been the week to vote him out and form up with the ladies to aim for the end. He's not thinking of the end game.

I think Pink girl has a real chance at it if she can just keep pulling out the big numbers. She's a huge threat and so is Jay. Those two fall below the line and thier out.

My one pet peeve is how wrapped up in the game people get and how much they seem to forget at times that this is about losing weight and changing your life. I'd so be going in there like a sponge desprate to soak up every experiance every bit of knowledge. I hate how being sent home seems like and end for them. It's just the begining. It's like this at home match up. Ok maybe I didn't win....But I DID win. I lost 19 pounds and am still going. I've made friends, I've found a lifestyle I can LIVE and stick with. I have won. HUGE. i'm thrilled about it. I was so happy to look in my friends recent post on here and see so many of you still going. I'm so proud of everyone. You've taken the heart of biggest loser and taken control of your life . Thats the amazing thing about all of this. Together we're winning and the prize is our life :)

*Steps off my random soapbox*

Ohh I saw the doctor today. Got AWSOME news...they don't think it's emphasema. They figured out that the chest deformity I have has decresed the size of my lungs by 60% which gives the impression of emphasemia. Thier double checking and I'll have thhe answer the 26th but it looks good. It looks like it's cardiac stuff more then anything. Which is fixable by meds. Yeah me :)

Georgia

This last week

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 14:36:00 GMT

We'll the week is over I can officially blog again. Jamie and I puzzled over the rules and weren't sure if you could blog the judging week or not but figured ehh be safe.

I've got a cold from heck and slept the last 24 hours. Jamie did the shopping by herself and was sooo nice and got me skinny cow ice cream popsicles since my throat doesn't like solid food at the moment.

I woke up the other day and felt thinner. My shirt was loose and just not fitting right and I could notice some of the weight loss. I told Jamie I don't think I've ever had a Skinny day in my life. We cracked up. But im very much noticing my clothes are looser.

We're driving to Utah next month to pick up our friend and soon to be roomate. And we're already planning what we can take with us to cut back on eating out. Fruits...cutting up veggies and bagging them...sandwitches in a cooler...veggie chips....and our water bottles. We ALWAYS eat more calories out then we would at home even if we try and plan it so the less restraunts the better.

Thats about it. Had a low key week. Ohh experimented with lentils for the first time. OMG soo good. I soaked them over night drained and rinced then set them to boil for 5 minutes then simmered them in chicken broth for a few hours. They were HEAVENLY. We are definantly adding them to our "Staples" of our menu . I highly recomend trying them.

Georgia

Final Thoughts on the journey so far

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 02:13:28 GMT

Oh my gosh! I never have even dreamed that I could lose 26 lbs in 2 months. But, I did it.

It hasn't been all easy, and there have been some rough spots. There have been several times that I just wanted to throw everything in and say forget it because I'll never get down to a healthy weight so why bother trying just to fail. Those times are when we needed each other to keep going. As we keep going I'm betting those days will get less and less.

I'm hoping that by the cruise in June I'll be down under 300lbs. Or at least close to it. I honestly don't know when the last time I was under 300 lbs was. I started college at 18 at just over 280lbs I think. That was 8 years ago. I remember being 150lbs in 6th grade. I was always the fat kid from the time I was 7 years old. It makes you feel like everyone is always watching you and looking down on you because of how you look. I don't think I know what it's like to not feel that way. Just loosing the little bit that I have has made such a difference that I don't think I can ever let myself go back to not caring and not eating the way I should.

The contest might be over tonight but the journey definately is not. We're going to keep going and keep it up and before you know it we'll be completely different people. I've realized that it doesn't matter how long it takes to get there, as long as we keep moving forward and keep trying. Then one day, when we get there, we'll be able to look back at all this and go "wow, I really did it"

We've done a lot every day to make us feel proud. Everyone who has made it this far has a lot of reasons to feel proud.

Georgia's Final Weigh in (Before contest ends) And goals revisited

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 20:24:19 GMT

Drum roll please....*drum's on my desk* I am in the 250's !!! WOOT 258. That is 18 pounds lost since January 1st.

*Bows* ty ty

*does a happy dance* I'm very pleased with this 3 pound weight loss this week. I was hoping to get into 250 before the contest officially ended. But I didn't want to get my heart set on it because I'd already acheived my goals for this month and hadn't wanted to set myself up to be disapointed. So I'm doubly happy.

My next goal is to get under 250. I should be able to acheive this by next month.

I don't plan on going anywhere. I plan to update this blog as often as I did before. Continue doing videos, Continue using fitday, Continue my journy. When I started I didn't belive I'd make it to the end of the contest still going strong. IN the back of my mind I went naw I won't last. Or something's going to come up and affect this physically. Well something in fact several somethings came up. Backs going out heart acting up etc and I STILL stuck to it. My hope was I could prove ANYONE can lose weight. I think I've done that. I haven't been able to stick to an "ideal" diet plan. I binged once on a whole Pizza and fried apple pies. I couldn't do the workout I wanted to because of my health. Heck I even ended up in the hospital at one point. But I STILL did it. I kept going. I never gave up. I changed my diet course , I improvised, but I kept going. And now at the end of this compition I'm 18 pounds lighter. And I'm not quitting. Jamie and I are in for the long run. We've recruited 2 people to the gym and inspired one person to tackle thier eating habits. By making these changes we made a difference in our life.

I have to revise my goals some. Instead of 5X a week workouts I have to say ok as often as I pschically can and my doctors will allow. Ok I can live with that. Instead of 2000 calories I've edited that to around 1300 callories a day with 1 high day a week of around 1600 and never dropping below 1100 for ANY reason. My aim is between 1200 and 1600 daily. That gives me flexibility. I'd like to stick to the 1300 wit one 1600 day in there but this is reality. Not every days gonna be perfect. So as long as i'm in my 1200-1600 range it's been a good day. I haven't used fitday EVERY day but I used it more then I didnt and even when I didn't I mentally kept track of

EVERYTHING going in my mouth.

When I crashed after the hospital and got depressed for a week and couldn't do the fitday blog thing I KEPT going. I made the healthiest choices I could every descion. And when I binged ONE and ate an entire pizza at 1300 calories and the fried apple pies for another 800 I didn't give up and say see I'm a loser. I woke up the next day and said ok you comfort ate. You binged. Now what and went right back to the lifestyle I've chosen.

I can honestly say every single day Since January first except for one I have an answer to what have you done today to make you feel proud.

I AM proud

These are some HUGE changes for me. I have lived our teams motto. A winner is just a loser who gave it one more change. And I did I gave it one more chance and I AM a winner. And I'm not just a winner that won ok now I'm done. I'm continuing on. This isn't a diet. This is a lifestyle.

Georgia

Favorite Recipies

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 20:16:09 GMT

I'm catching up with a few blog's I've been meaning to make. Not alot but a few little things I'd wanted to share before this contest ends.

We've been making some healthy versions of our favorite comfort foods. Pizza and Spagetti. I've mentioned them before but wanted to share the process in pictures for you.

Comfort food 1...

Goat Cheese Pizza.

Boboli Wheat Crust

Goat Cheese

Basil

Tomato's

Olive Oil

Garlic or Garlic powder (Optional)

Italion Seasoning (Optional)

Bell Peppers

Lightly Saute the pepers in 1 tsp olive oil or less depending on how many

Spread the pizza crust with the goat cheese

Cover the pizza with fresh basil leaves

Sprinkle with tomatos and add peppers

Season with garlic and seasoning as desired Broil or bake in oven until tomatos are heated through depending on if you like soft crust or crispier crust make for crispy broil for soft

Goat Cheese Basil Sandwitch

Olive oil

Wheat bread(We like sara lee 45 calorie bread)

Goat Cheese

sweet red Peppers

Basil

Sautee peppers in olive oil you DONT need much

Spread the goat cheese on the bread

cover with basil leaves

Add peppers close and broil in the oven

YUMMMM

A picture of our spagetti/pizza sauce. We start with TONS of fresh veggies Spinach, Zuchini, fresh tomatos, Bell peppers, onions , Yellow Squash, Mixed greens. We literally add SO many fresh veggies it looks like a salad. Then add 1 can diced tomatos and 1/2 can water. Simmer on LOW stirring every 20 minutes or so. We fill the pot with the veggies then as they simmer down add 2 more cans of diced tomatos or fresh tomatos and 2 can tomato sauce or tomato soup. Garlic and orgegeno. Sooo gooood and pretty health. We serve on wheat pizza crust or wheat noodles or even lentils

Turkey Chili

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 01:13:41 GMT

8 oz ground turkey
1/2 bag navy beans (dry)
1/2 bag pinto beans (dry)
2 green peppers
1 red pepper
1 yellow pepper
1 onion
garlic
1 packet chili seasoning
2 can diced tomatoes

Soak the beans overnight in water. Simmer the beans on low heat for 2-3 hours, until they are soft. Add chopped peppers, onion, tomatoes, garlic to taste, and chili seasoning to beans. Simmer until veggies are cooked. The longer you let it simmer the more the flavors blend together. Add water as needed. I usually let everything simmer together for another 2-3 hours, checking on it and stirring every half hour or so. I used to serve it with cornbread, but havent' found a lower calorie version of cornbread yet.

Nutrition facts

Sat, 08 Mar 2008 01:10:59 GMT

Found some really cool nutrition information. I thought i'd share

Protein

Women need about 45g of protein a day (more if pregnant, lactating or very active), men need about 55g (more if very active). Evidence suggests that excess protein contributes to degenerative diseases. Vegetarians obtain protein from:

Nuts: hazels, brazils, almonds, cashews, walnuts, pine kernels etc.
Seeds: sesame, pumpkin, sunflower, linseeds.
Pulses: peas, beans, lentils, peanuts.
Grains/cereals: wheat (in bread, flour, pasta etc), barley, rye, oats, millet, maize (sweetcorn), rice.
Soya products: tofu, tempeh, textured vegetable protein, veggieburgers, soya milk.
Dairy products: milk, cheese, yoghurt (butter and cream are very poor sources of protein).
Free range eggs.

You have may have heard that it is necessary to balance the complementary amino acids in a vegetarian diet. This is not as alarming as it sounds. Amino acids are the units from which proteins are made. There are 20 different ones in all. We can make many of them in our bodies by converting other amino acids, but eight cannot be made, they have to be provided in the diet and so they are called essential amino acids.

Single plant foods do not contain all the essential amino acids we need in the right proportions, but when we mix plant foods together, any deficiency in one is cancelled out by any excess in the other. We mix protein foods all the time, whether we are meat-eaters or vegetarians. It is a normal part of the human way of eating. A few examples are beans on toast, muesli, or rice and peas. Adding dairy products or eggs also adds the missing amino acids, eg macaroni cheese, quiche, porridge.

It is now known that the body has a pool of amino acids so that if one meal is deficient, it can be made up from the body's own stores. Because of this, we don't have to worry about complementing amino acids all the time, as long as our diet is generally varied and well-balanced. Even those foods not considered high in protein are adding some amino acids to this pool.

Carbohydrate

Carbohydrate is our main and most important source of energy, and most of it is provided by plant foods. There are three main types: simple sugars, complex carbohydrates or starches and dietary fibre.

The sugars or simple carbohydrates can be found in fruit, milk and ordinary table sugar. Refined sources of sugar are best avoided as they provide energy without any associated fibre, vitamins or minerals and they are also the main cause of dental decay.

Complex carbohydrates are found in cereals/grains (bread, rice, pasta, oats, barley, millet, buckwheat, rye) and some root vegetables, such as potatoes and parsnips. A healthy diet should contain plenty of these starchy foods as a high intake of complex carbohydrate is now known to benefit health. The unrefined carbohydrates, like wholemeal bread and brown rice are best of all because they contain essential dietary fibre and B vitamins.

The World Health Organisation recommends that 50-70% of energy should come from complex carbohydrates. The exact amount of carbohydrate that you need depends upon your appetite and also your level of activity. Contrary to previous belief a slimming diet should not be low in carbohydrates. In fact starchy foods are very filling relative to the number of calories that they contain.

Dietary Fibre

Dietary fibre or non-starch polysaccharide (NSP), as it is now termed, refers to the indigestible part of a carbohydrate food. Fibre can be found in unrefined or wholegrain cereals, fruit (fresh and dried) and vegetables. A good intake of dietary fibre can prevent many digestive problems and protect against diseases like colon cancer and diverticular disease.

Fats & Oils

Too much fat is bad for us, but a little is necessary to keep our tissues in good repair, for the manufacture of hormones and to act as a carrier for some vitamins. Like proteins, fats are made of smaller units, called fatty acids. Two of these fatty acids, linoleic and linolenic acids, are termed essential as they must be provided in the diet. This is no problem as they are widely found in plant foods.

Fats can be either saturated or unsaturated (mono-unsaturated or poly-unsaturated). A high intake of saturated fat can lead to a raised blood cholesterol level and this has been linked to heart disease. Vegetable fats tend to be more unsaturated and this is one of the benefits of a vegetarian diet. Mono-unsaturated fats, such as olive oil or peanut oil, are best used for frying as the poly-unsaturated fats, like sunflower or safflower oil are unstable at high temperatures. Animal fats (including butter and cheese) tend to be more saturated than vegetable fats, with the exception of palm oil and coconut oil.

Vitamins

Vitamin is the name for several unrelated nutrients that the body cannot synthesise either at all, or in sufficient quantities. The one thing they have in common is that only small quantities are needed in the diet. The main vegetarian sources are listed below:

Vitamin A (or beta carotene): Red, orange or yellow vegetables like carrots and tomatoes, leafy green vegetables and fruits like apricots and peaches. It is added to most margarines.

B Vitamins: This group of vitamins includes B1 (thiamin), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B6 (pyridoxine), B12 (cyanocobalmin), folate, pantothenic acid and biotin.

All the B vitamins except B12 occur in yeasts and whole cereals (especially wheat germ), nuts & seeds, pulses and green vegetables.

Vitamin B12 is the only one that may cause some difficulty as it is not present in plant foods. Only very tiny amounts of B12 are needed and vegetarians usually get this from dairy produce and free range eggs. It is sensible for vegans and vegetarians who consume few animal foods to incorporate some B12 fortified foods in their diet. Vitamin B12 is added to yeast extracts, soya milks, veggieburgers and some breakfast cereals.

Vitamin C: Fresh fruit, salad vegetables, all leafy green vegetables and potatoes.

Vitamin D: This is vitamin is not found in plant foods but humans can make their own when skin is exposed to sunlight. It is also added to most margarines and is present in milk, cheese and butter. These sources are usually adequate for healthy adults. The very young, the very old and anyone confined indoors would be wise to take a vitamin D supplement especially if they consume very few dairy products.

Vitamin E: Vegetable oil, wholegrain cereals, eggs.

Vitamin K: Fresh vegetables, cereals and bacterial synthesis in the intestine.

Minerals

Minerals perform a variety of jobs in the body. Details of the some of the most important minerals are listed below:

Calcium: Important for healthy bones and teeth. Found in dairy produce, leafy green vegetables, bread, tap water in hard water areas, nuts and seeds (especially sesame seeds), dried fruits, cheese. Vitamin D helps calcium to be absorbed.

Iron: Needed for red blood cells. Found in leafy green vegetables, wholemeal bread, molasses, eggs, dried fruits (especially apricots and figs), lentils and pulses. Vegetable sources of iron are not as easily absorbed as animal sources, but a good intake of vitamin C will enhance absorption.

Zinc: Plays a major role in many enzyme reactions and the immune system. Found in green vegetables, cheese, sesame and pumpkin seeds, lentils and wholegrain cereals.

Iodine: Present in vegetables, but the quantity depends on how rich the soil is in iodine. Dairy products also have plenty of iodine. Sea vegetables are a good source of iodine for vegans

Getting back into things

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 08:01:37 GMT

The last 2 weeks have been no loss weeks because of everything that's been going on. Between Georgia being in the hospital and having company we haven't been tracking as well as we should have. We're trying to get back into our routine this week and hopefully we'll start seeing some more loss.

We wanted Wendy's last night as we were coming home from the hospital and it would have been sooo easy to just pull right in, but I didn't. We came home and had some morningstar corn dogs instead. I don't like corndogs, but those were really really good. That's something we'll have to keep around if we can. It's a great fast meal for those nights that we don't have time to cook or when we are really wanting some fast food.

tech issues

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 22:36:19 GMT

Ugh the site ate all of our lists and is giving us some issues so were reworking our page. Have patience the next couple of days as we reinput all our information. I think I'm going to do a list for starting month's calories and current months calories instead of reinputting ALL of it.

I'm being super extra careful with my calories this week. I stalled out from all the stress of the hospital trips and health issues. So I'm going to jump start it.

Oh I'm on doctors orders to relax the next couple days after a bad heart spell last night blech. Just until the new dose of meds kicks ins. So I'm gonna have to put off going back to the gym until monday. But it's ok I'm sticking to this come heck or high water *grins*

Georgia

Gym

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 03:48:07 GMT

This month is the 3 year anniversary for the gym we go to. They are doing a promo where every member gets a card to give one person a membership with no initiation fee, just the monthly fees. I bought the letter home that explained it and immediately we had 2 people go OOOOhhhhh I want to try. So we're getting Georgia's sister a member ship and our friend that is moving out here. It's really cool to see that our choices are helping those around us make better choices too.

The nutrition class this month is a grocery walk around. We're going to meet at the neighborhood Safeway and go around the store looking at labels and learning the most nutritions foods, etc. They are doing it tomorrow at the grocery store we were going to need to go to anyway so we signed up. It should be interesting.

Congrats Jamie !!!

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 22:51:06 GMT

Wow so our gym has this tracking system to track miles logged weight lost water drank etc. And we'd been using it. I slacked the last few weeks because I'd been sick but am back on top of it. Well yesterday they sent out the gym newsletter and listed the top in each catagory and Jamie won for weight lost for the month. Congrats Jamie !!! I'm so proud of her. She wasn't trying to win just did what she's been doing and she lost the most weight at the entire club.

Then today I get an email from the director of the program saying You were in second place keep up the good work were proud of you. I think thats SO awsome that team Geojam placed 1st and 2nd for the whole club. I'm practicly bursting with pride.

I needed that email. Yesterday was an emotional day for me. it was the aniversery of my brothers death. And I comfor ate.We ordered a pizza and got the healthy version at 200 calories a slice. But then I completly lost it and pigged out. First time I have fallen to temptation like that this whole time. I went WAY over my calories for the day. And I knew what I was doing. I was sad I hurt so I comfort ate it away.I was feeling guilty and wondering if I'd ever break these habits when I got that email. I HAVE broken those habits I just slipped up for a night. So we've rededicated our efforts and now that I ahve the doctors ok to go back to the gym even if it's a little lighter then it was before its something.So I'm going to and Jamie and I are gonna get back on our schedual of gym 3-5 days a week.

our friend who was visiting (And soon to be our roomate) got inspired by us went home cleared out her cupboard and went armed with all of our favorite recipies and has been using fitday and is making some changes in her life too. I'm so proud of her and feel SO good that I helped her too. You know even when I feel ashamed for my binge I still am finding pride in all I've done.

Our lists on the side of the page broke so we're gunna have to go in and redo our tables and lists and such. Seems like a good week to do it since I need to get back on track. Were gunna make some killer videos on my new camera this week to. :)

What have you done today...to make you feel proud !

Georgia

Photo Album: March 11

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 04:09:25 GMT

March 11

biggest loser 027

biggest loser 028

biggest loser

biggest loser 020

biggest loser 021

biggest loser 022

biggest loser 024

biggest loser 025

biggest loser 026

biggest loser 023

Photo Album: January 01--weight loss

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 05:46:20 GMT

January 01--weight loss

Late December 07 Before challenge

jamie December 29th

Hill I climbed

Jan 5th Jamie

Jan 5th Georgia

Starting shot front Jamie Jan 5

Starting shot side Jamie Jan 5

Starting shot rear Jan 5 Jamie

Georgia & Jamie

Starting shot front Georgia Jan 5

More Photos...

Custom List: Georgia's Weekly Weigh in

Thu, 29 May 2008 06:23:42 GMT

Georgia's Weekly Weigh in

January 1st
Starting Weight 276
January 15th
Week 2 268 (We had to get a scale)
Jan 22nd
268 No loss no gain but im bustin butt so its gunna show up next week !!
Jan 29th
266
Feb 12th
261 That's 15 pounds to date or 5% of my weight
Rest of Feb
Still at 261 I stalled out for 2 weeks
March 4th
261 no weight gained or lost but was in the hospital and sick alot of this
March 11th
258 18 pounds lost since jan 1st
May 28th
249 pounds 27 pounds to date lost

Custom List: Jamie's Weekly Weigh in

Tue, 06 May 2008 13:53:05 GMT

Jamie's Weekly Weigh in

January 1st
Starting Weight 380
Jan 15
375 lbs
Jan 22
372 lbs
Jan 29
364.6 lbs.
Feb 5
363.6 lbs
Feb 12
362.5 lbs
Feb 17
361 lbs.
Feb 26
361 lbs
Mar 4
361 lbs
Mar 11
354 lbs. !!!!!!!
May 6
347 lbs.

Custom List: Goals and Rewards

Tue, 06 May 2008 13:51:41 GMT

Goals and Rewards

Jamie's monthly Reward
Massage
Georgia's Monthly Reward
Massage
Jamie 25 pounds lost
25 dollars worth of books
Georgia's 25 pounds lost
25 to spend on poker star
Jamie's 50 pounds lost
Digital Camera
Georgia's 50 pounds lost
Ipod
Jamie's 75 pounds lost
$50 in new movies
Georgia's 75 pounds lost
Bike unless doctors say no then old nintendo system
Georgia's 100 pounds lost
1/2 a Wii
Jamie's 100 lost
1/2 a wii
Jamie's 150 lost
trip for 2 somewhere I've never been

Custom List: Sample Menu

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 04:17:17 GMT

Sample Menu

Saturday Dinner
Tuna Sandwitch No mayo 2 slices Soy bread Cheese Stick Smoothy made with 1 serving frozen fruit 1 serving yogurt .5 cup milk Snack 1 Serving fruit chips Callories 1325 31% Protein 51% Carbs 17% Fat
Saturday Breakfast and Lunch
BREAKFAST: 2 cups Kashi GoLean Crunch Cereal 1 cup fat free milk LUNCH: Eating right Chilli 1 Serving 1 Motzerella Cheese stick Baby Carrots and sliced peppers raw
Friday Dinner
Pizza: 1 individual boboli whole wheat crust, 1/4 c. homemade pizza sauce, 1/4 red pepper, 1/4 yellow pepper, 8 slices turkey pepperoni, 1/2 c mushrooms, 1/4 c spinach, 1 cheese stick. Calories: 1209 Fat: 34% Carbs: 30% Protein: 36%
Friday Breakfast and Lunch
BREAKFAST: breakfast burrito(1 whole egg, 2 egg whites, 1 turkey sausage link, 2 tbsp salsa, 1 tbsp nonfat yogurt ranch, 1 low carb wrap) LUNCH: 2 cups lettuce, 1 cup fresh spinach, 1/2 green pepper, 1/2 cucumber, 1 roma tomato, 2 tbsp dressing
Thursday DInner
Tacos made with 1/8 c. fat free refried beans, 2 oz ground turkey, 1/8 c. chopped mushrooms, 1/2 chopped roma tomato, 1 cheese stick, low carb wrap. Morningstar spinach artichoke bites. Calories: 1393 Fat: 30% Carbs: 47% Protein: 23%
Thursday Breakfast and Lunch
BREAKFAST: Egg white omlet made with 4 egg whites, 1/4 c. chopped mushrooms, 1 cheese stick. 2 links turkey sausage. LUNCH: 2 Jennie O Turkey Franks on 2 slices 45 calorie bread, Flat Earth veggie crisps, 1 apple
Wed Dinner
2 slices orrow wheat bread 2 slices turkey lunchmeat 1 cheese stick 1 serving Soy Crisps Baby Carrots Broccoli Sliced bell peppers Snack 2 cups milk 1 serving wheat crackers banana 1332 calories 27% protein 19% fat
Wed breakfast and lunc
BREAKFAST: Jamie Special K cereal bar Georgia Oatmeal orange LUNCH: 1/2 each Subway Roast beef sub no mayo lots of veggies wheat bun
Tuesday Dinner
Home made lasgna made from Per serving 2 oz ground turkey Zuchini roma tomatoes tomato sauce fat free cottage cheese mushrooms healthy harvest wheat lasgna noodles Large salad 1 tbsp dressing 1338 calories 26% protein 53% carbs 21% fat
Tuesday Breakfast and lunch
BREAKFAST: Eating right buttermilk frozen wafuls 2 tbsp syrup GEORGIA: snack 1 banana LUNCH: Jamie Michelean Frozen Beefsteak and rice Georgia 2 slices orrow wheat bread 2 tsp peanutbutter 1 bunch grapes 1 cup milk
Monday Dinner & Snack
Baked Chicken Veggies and Fries 4 OZ baked chicken 1 serving french fries baked 1 cup brocli stir fry type veggie mix Snack Low Fat Cheese stick 2 cuos Fat free Milk Stats 1342 Calories 27% Protein 49% Carbs 23% Fat
Monday Breakfast and Lunch
JAMIE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH: Healthy heart bar,Yogurt, Michelean frozen dinner, GEORGIA BREAKFAST AND LUNCH: Weight control oatmeal, Yogurt, Banana, Baby Carrots, Turkey breast sandwitch no mayo on 45 calorie wheat bread.
Sunday Dinner
Shrimp Cocktail 2 OZ Cocktail Sauce Smoothy made with 1 serving yogurt 1 banana 1tsp peanutbutter 2 cup skim milk Frozen strawberrys Snack Hanful Raisons Callories 1326 28% protein 59% carbs 13% fat
Sunday Breakfast and Lunch
BREAKFAST: Weight control Oatmeal Banana Raw Snack 1 Serving Banana Chips LUNCH: Shrimp Cocktail 3 oz Cucumber slices Raw Zuchini Baby Tomatos 2 Tbsp Cocktail sauce

Custom List: Team Stats

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 02:26:45 GMT

Team Stats

Team Stats Jan 1st
Team weight 626
Georgia Jan 1st
276
Jamie Jan 1st
380
Team Weight loss
To Date: 44 Pounds Lost
March 11 - Jamie
354 lbs.
March 11 - Georgia
258 lbs
March 11
Team Total: 612lbs

Custom List: Jamie's Goals

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 01:54:57 GMT

Jamie's Goals

Ending Goals
Starting out I didn't really know the what goals were realistic. Now I've got a better idea for how to continue those goals. I want to continue eating 1300-1500 calories a day, keep going to the gym at least 3 times a week. Lose 150 lbs this year.
Starting Goals
To Weigh less then I do now Eating better daily Find and stick to a work out plan 150 pounds lost this year Starting Weight 380

Custom List: Top Web Resources

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 22:07:57 GMT

Top Web Resources

Washington Health Foundation
A program my state is offering to help with health. Log Miles excersized nutrition tips. It's helping me alot
Ranier health and fitness
My Gym
Prevention Magazine
Some awsome articles suggestions recipies etc.
Fitness online
Another magazine site full of information
Exersize TV
Online Exersize Videos Some free some cost
Diet ticker
where I got my diet tracker
Fitday
Calorie logging site. EXCELLENT resource.
KFI jillians Podcast
Jillians weekly radio show podcasts. I LOVE her podcasts
Biggest loser archived siteBiggest loser archived site
Some great stuff from seasons past and some EXCELENT tips
MSN health and fitness
BEST collection of fitness and health tips around

Custom List: Georgia's Goals

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 21:04:28 GMT

Georgia's Goals

March 11th Goals updated
To keep my calories between 1200-1600 90% of the time and not to exceed 2000 calories in a day.To use fitday every day. To hit the gym regularly as my doctor allows. To lose 100 pounds this year.My Current weight 258
Starting Goals
My goals for 2008 To remain under 2000 callories a day To use fit day EVERY day to hit curves 3-5 times a week. To make SMART eating descions. To lose 100 pounds this year thats 2 pounds a week that's doable. My Begining weight 276 pounds

Custom List: Jamie's Favorite Workouts

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 20:48:42 GMT

Jamie's Favorite Workouts

Jan 7
first gym workout 10 min treadmill, 5 min eliptical machine, 15 min weight machines
Jan 10
20 min walk, 5 min bike, 45 min light aerobics, 2 min eliptical machine
Jan 15
45 min kick boxing
Jan 24
45 min movement class
Feb 18-21
house cleaning top to bottom, stacking wood every day
Mar 4
4 miles bike, 20 min weights

Custom List: Georgia's Favorite Workouts

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 20:44:09 GMT

Georgia's Favorite Workouts

January 3rd
20 minutes cardio My 7YO Neice joined in and made it alot of fun. She could be my workout buddy. She makes it seem fun.
January 4th
20 minute walk UPHILL
Jan 7th
First Gym workout 10 minutes treadmill 2 minunts eliptical (not ready yet) then 12 reps on 4 strength machines about 30 minutes total
Jan 10th
45 minute areobic core strengthing class. Yep i said 45 minutes. 3/4 of a mile on the bike warm up.
Jan 29th
2 Miles at SIX resistance on bike then ALL strength machines with TWO sets of 20 reps each at FOURTY pounds. Go Me !
Feb 12th
2 Miles on Bike walking around the hospital for 5 hours ((I've been bad about this because my back's been out but I have been working out as I could))
Feb 14th
Doctors orders Workouts on hold for now. I'm not giving up ! I'm staying active as much as my heart lets me.

Custom List: Jamie's Story

Thu, 03 Jan 2008 03:48:15 GMT

Jamie's Story

Now
Today, I know how unhealthy it is for me to continue unhealthy habits. I am ready to change my future, and I have the support system to be able to do it successfully.
College
As I got older, it was easier to continue the habits I had formed than to make new ones. I learned and heard plenty about how to loose weight, but it was still easier to just live with being heavy. I would avoid talking about it and pretend I was fine.
Teen years
The same thing happened again when I was around 12. I hit a growth spurt while I was continuing to eat a lot of junk and just became heavier. My parents were big so it was normal for my family. As much as I hated it, I didn't have the tools then to fix it.
Childhood
I never really had an example of how to eat healthy when I was a kid. We could eat what we wanted when we wanted and as much as we wanted. I hit a grown spurt around the time I was 6 and eating a lot of junk and I suddenly became heavy.

Custom List: Georgia's Story

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 21:30:19 GMT

Georgia's Story

My accomplishments
Through the trials I found joy in fundraising and held the John H Morrell memorial walk. I was President of the St Lucie Jaycee's and wont several speach compitions. Got my AA degree and despite it all lived. But never belived I could lose weight
Today
I'm still fighting my health. Marfan's, the stroke and epelepsi has left it's toll.I'm here to prove that ANYONE anywhere can lose weight. I'm going to prove my motto is true. A winner is a loser who gave it one more try. I'm in my 30's and I WILL do this
20's
My 20's found me stuggling and feeling incapable of changing anything. I was finding my feet when the disease I have killed my 19 year old brother. My family fell to peices. When things could get no lower, I had a stroke and a hurricane destroyed our homw
Teen Years
By the time I was 19 I'd had multiple heart surgerys a hysterectemy and spent more time using crutches and walkers then not. I got my GED and only went to 6 months of school after 6th grade for health reasons.
My Childhood
I was born with Marfan's Syndrome. At the age of 13 I was in a wheelchair due to a botched surgery. Going from active child to in a wheelchair left me hurting and the weight started to add. I ate away my pain and I've been overweight ever since.