All posts in category Sweet Tooth Challenge

Addict No More, and a Weigh In!

Sweat it Out:
Weights 45 minutes
Elliptical 20 minutes

Before Christmas I started the Sweet Tooth Challenge where I made a list of the things I was not going to consume for the entire month of December.  I did very well and I am happy to say that I didn’t give in to temptation only but a couple of times.  What were the temptations?  Soda.

Last month I confessed my addiction to caffeine and vowed that I would get myself off of the stuff.  I did good with the soda, but then came the Excedrine.  I was just plain tired.  Everyday.  All day.  I wasn’t eating very good, I wasn’t counting calories, I was basically just going through the motions (which would explain why I didn’t lose any weight in December).  I had cut out the energy drinks, but after 2 weeks of sluggish workouts and just not feeling myself, I caved and took some Excedrine.  Then I started taking it every morning before the gym, and even on the days that I wasn’t working out.

Just to clarify Excedrine is a HEADACHE medicine and should not be consumed daily.  All I could think of in my head was that how am I going to live without caffeine?  I obviously couldn’t go more than a few days without it, and I was worried.  I am not a stressor.  I am an act on it or move on type of girl, and I don’t like to just stew about things.  If I have a problem, I find a solution.  If I can’t find a solution, then I give into whatever it is and let the problem solve itself.  It’s the manager in me.  But I could not for the life of me figure out the answer to my issue.

I started the 21-Day Vegan Kickstart Challenge on January 2, and was still doing the Excedrine every morning.  I did this throughout the entire 1st week, and by Saturday I started to feel sick to my stomach and nervous, a feeling that the pills had never given me before.  On Sunday the 8th I decided that I wasn’t going to take the pills and let the consequences play out.

I was expecting a major headache in the afternoon, because I have detoxed off caffeine before and this is the cycle.  I get a headache it won’t go away for a few days and I feel sluggish so I find some way to get caffeine into my body stat.

A different thing happened on that Sunday, and I almost didn’t even notice it. It wasn’t until the end of the day that I remembered I hadn’t taken any pills and I didn’t have a headache, and most importantly, I didn’t feel sluggish or lazy all day.  Last week I had amazing workouts, and a TON of energy!  I have realized that eating vegan had rid me of my addiction to caffeine!!!

I sleep better at night, and I am a fan of not having to rely on something for energy everyday!  With all the great results I have been having, it’s hard to deny that my body is having a positive response to the vegan lifestyle.  I’m not making any major decisions about this diet until the finish next week where I will do a Pro & Con Post, but it is definitely looking more pro than con!

Weigh In

Starting Weight: 282.8 Pounds

Last Week’s Weight: 254.4 Pounds

This Week’s Weight: 251.6 Pounds

Total Week’s Loss: -2.8 Pounds

Over All Loss: -31.2 Pounds!

I am extremely happy with this weeks results, and I have heard that the longer you eat vegan the better you will feel!  I am actually happy that the loss wasn’t bigger because it just proves that I am losing fat and not muscle, plus it is easier to keep it off when you lose it slower.  I could not be happier about how this challenge is working out!

Stay tuned tomorrow for a very special guest post from one of my blogging buddies who recently turned to a Vegan lifestyle and the positive results that she has gotten from it!

Happy Monday!

3 Comments
by Shrinking Carrie on January 16, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in 21-Day Vegan Kickstart, Caffeine, Diet, Energy, Health Benefits, PCRM, Sweet Tooth Challenge, Vegan

Posted by Shrinking Carrie on January 16, 2012

http://shrinkingcarrie.com/2012/01/16/addict-no-more-and-a-weigh-in/

Motivational Monday

Sweat it Out:
50 Minutes Weights

Well my Monday is starting off great.  I tried to get to the gym right at 8 to meet my friend Kelly, didn’t get their until almost 8:15, cut my workout a little short so I could get Hanna to the Dr.’s office for her booster Flu Shot, and found out that it wasn’t until Wednesday!  Boo!  I am usually so good at remembering dates!  I must have a lot going on in my head right now trying to get everything done for Christmas before next week!  So much to do, this week should be interesting to say the least.

This is my motivation for this week. Lots to do and not a lot of time to do it in!  I don’t mind being busy, it really takes the focus off of constantly thinking about food!

Since this is my last week to make any sort of dent in my diet, I’m going to make a few goals for this week so that I can stay focused:

  • Drink 100 oz’s of water daily
  • Gym it up!  6 days, NO EXCUSES.  1 down, 5 to go.
  • Meal plan.  Getting this done today.
  • Eat my veggies.  This has been lacking lately. Some sort of green everyday.
  • Wear my bodybugg everyday.

I have found that if I wear my bodybugg to bed every night, it is WAY more accurate.  This is a good thing considering I was getting a little frustrated not hitting my 3100 calorie burn on days that I would workout like a beast!

#WEverb11 December 12: Thrive.  What was your healthiest habit of 2011?  What would you like to change or do differently in 2012?

My healthiest habit was drinking water.  It is pretty rare that I go a day without drinking at least three 32 oz. Nalgenes.  I have actually had a good habit of drinking a lot of water since I was in my early 20′s.  I get bladder infections pretty easily and if I don’t drink enough water, it is a definite that I will get one.

What I am doing differently, and will continue doing differently in 2012, is carbonated drinks.  Soda and energy drink are out this next year.  I’ve been doing really good lately, and as long as I keep a water bottle with me I seem to not be tempted to drink soda.

Sweet Tooth Challenge Update!

So far, this challenge has been helping me out this holiday season.  I did have some frozen yogurt last week, but it wasn’t necessarily Ice Cream (details).  I also drank about 8 oz. of Dr. Pepper when we had free Cafe Rio.  I had forgotten my water bottle and gave into temptation.  I’m not beating myself up. It happens, and it’s not the end of the world.  The fact that I haven’t had any Egg Nog this year is a miracle!  I shut my eyes past the displays at the store.

I purchased my Pea Protein (vegan protein powder) for the Vegan 21 day Kickstart, and I am excited to get started when I get back from Arizona!

Here’s to a successful holiday season so far!

How is your Holiday going?  Are you busy, busy, busy? 

“The New Rules of Lifting for Women” Phase 5, Day 4, Workout B

  • Romanian Deadlift/Row: 4 Sets of 8/4, 60 Pounds
  • Lat Pulldown: 4 Sets of 8, 80 Pounds
  • Single leg squat: 4 Sets of 10
  • Back Extension: 4 sets of 60 second holds
  • Shoulder Press: 4 sets of 8, 35 Pounds
  • Plank: 3 sets of 60 second holds
  • Prone Jack-knife: 2 sets of 15
4 Comments
by Shrinking Carrie on December 12, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in #WEverb11, 21-Day Vegan Kickstart, Holiday, Sweet Tooth Challenge, The New Rules of Lifting for Women

Posted by Shrinking Carrie on December 12, 2011

http://shrinkingcarrie.com/2011/12/12/motivational-monday/

Sweet Tooth Challenge!

Sweat it Out:
1 Hour Elliptical

Today was a HARD day at the gym.  Not that I did anything out of the ordinary, but the lack of caffeine has been a killer on my cardio.  That, and I started having stomach pains half way through, and had to run home pretty quick after my workout (if you know what I mean).  I also, can’t seem to kick this headache no matter how much Tylenol I take.  Oh well,  boohoo.

It seems from a lot of the weight loss blogs I am reading that this is a hard time of year for all of us who are trying to lose weight.  It seems that everyone wants to get through the holidays unscathed and a little bit thinner.  I am no different.  In an effort to keep up the weight loss (or at least maintain through this rough time of year) I have decided to join in a fun (for lack of a better word) Sweet Tooth Challenge.  In reality, I feel like I am kicking and screaming through each day until the end of Christmas, so I better do something that helps me feel like I’m accomplishing SOMETHING at this time of year. The challenge has been put on by Maran over at From Cow to Wow.  Feel free to join in, here are the details:

Isn’t that picture so cute!?

The rules are simple:

  • You define a list of what’s off-limits in YOUR challenge. Sweets, treats, desserts, chips, anything you need to lay off – include it!
  • Set a date, such as December 23rd or whichever date suits you best. (You can push your start date to after Thanksgiving if you feel that’s best ;) )
  • You can challenge people directly, or just announce your participation.
  • Post it on your blog and link back here. Grab the tooth picture too. :) If you are on Twitter you can use #SweetChallenge
  • You don’t have to update on your progress regularly, but I suggest you add it to something else you post about regularly.. such as weigh-ins or other challenges you’re in.

My Goal is to make it to December 24th which will be tough considering I am going to visit my brother in Arizona for the week of Christmas, so my start date will be the day after Thanksgiving.  Total challenge dates are November 25th-December 24th.  And here are the five items that I will be not be eating this year:

  • All soda’s.  This goes along with my Caffeine Free Zone from a few days ago.
  • Enstrom’s Toffee.  This is the time of year that they set up the kiosk in the mall with samples of toffee.  If you have not tried this toffee, don’t.  It is addicting.  Along with this I will have to say my Gramma’s homemade toffee as well.
  • Egg Nog.  I LOVE Egg Nog!  It is SO BAD FOR YOU!  I saw a huge display of it at the store and I’m making the right decision by deciding to not drink it this year.
  • Ice Cream.  My hub’s will think I’ve gone nuts on this one.
  • Cake.  I know cake is not really a holiday treat, but I seem to be craving this more and more lately.

I am trying like crazy to lose weight during the holidays, but I know that by doing this challenge I will at least not GAIN weight!

  • Would you like to participate?  Either blog about it and link up to Maran’s blog, or tell me something you are going to give up in the comments of this post!  
7 Comments
by Shrinking Carrie on November 22, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Challenges, Goals, Motivation, Sweet Tooth Challenge

Posted by Shrinking Carrie on November 22, 2011

http://shrinkingcarrie.com/2011/11/22/sweet-tooth-challenge/

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