Introduction:

My name is Katy Watts and I am a 24 year old, living in Ottawa, Ontario. I am a part time student (just two courses till I graduate!) and work full time as a security guard for federal government buildings. In 2001 I started living a healthy lifestyle, since then I have gone from over 330lbs to my current 189(ish)lbs.

Although I did manage to lose so much weight, lately I have found myself creeping into my old habits. Binge eating, specifically. I want to get down to 170lbs (I am big for a girl - 5'10", large frame) and reduce my bodyfat and most improtantly, I want to learn how to control my eating. That is the goal for this journal and I hope it helps keep me accountable for my eating actions ;)

That being said.. let's get on to the journaling!

Projected Meal Plan:

Tonight I'm working the night shift, so my meal schedule might seem a bit odd.

00:00 - 1/2 cup oatmeal (dry) w/ 40g raisins
03:30 - 2 slices multigrain bread w/ 100g sliced chicken, apple sauce and Dutch Hill light hot chocolate
07:00 - Detour protein bar
14:00 - 5 egg white omlette w/ 30g light havarti cheese
18:00 - 100g chicken breast, 1 cup brown rice, steamed veggies
21:00 - Vanilla whey w/ 1 cup soy milk and 1 cup berries

Projected Gym Work:

- treadmill training, intervals (30 minutes)
- biceps / back weight training

Actual Meal Plan:

Followed the menu accordingly. Go me :)

Actual Gym Work:

- stairmaster, intervals (30 minutes)
- biceps / back weight training

Today will be a busy day. Class, doctors appointment and work.. Yuck.

Weight: 192.4

Projecteed Meal Plan:

08:00 - 5 egg white omlette w/ 3 T salsa and light havarti; 1/2 cup oatmeal (dry) w/ banana; 16 oz coffee
11:00 - 1 serving Whey Cooler Lemon Ice Tea
14:00 - Whole wheat pita w/ 85g tuna, V8 and apple sauce
17:00 - 100g deli turkey w/ raw veggies
20:00 - 100g chicken, 1 cup brown rice, and steamed veggies
23:00 - 28g peanuts and 40g raisins

Probably sneak in an XL Tim Horton's coffee (3 sweetners, 1 cream) in there before I go to work at 16:00.

Projected Gym Work:

- treadmill, intervals (30 minutes)
- shoulders / abs weight training

Actual Meal Plan:

- used 90ml sugar free syrup in oatmeal
- changed 20:00 meal to chicken in a pita since I would be at work and not able to prepare the chicken and veggies

Actual Gym Work:

- stairmaster instead of treadmill; couldn't snag a treadmill

Heh, there was a girl dressed as the 80's version of Madonna at the gym today. She had the makeup, big star earrings, you name it. I'm sure she was dressed to workout.. but all I saw her do was talk to her friend on the elliptical.

Hi Katy and welcome! Wow I admire your accomplishments! Amazing!

I think that you will find this board such an inspiration! If you have a question, SO many on here are eager to help in any way they can, and the advice is supurb!

I will be keeping up with your journal! It will feel so wonderful when I attain the great success that you have!

May I ask some of the things that you did to lose the weight you have so far? I'm very interested! Today ends week 6 for me and I have lost 15 lbs so far, but I want to learn all I can!

Well, I'm so glad you're here! Your goal is SO close! You'll reach it VERY soon! :tu:

God Bless You!

-Donna Lynn

Today was an odd day. Of course, certain uncontrollable events (http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/showthread.php?t=7928) may have made it worse. I ate well.. Except for the donut. But it was yummy and, at the time, seemed very necessary to my survival.

Actual Meal Plan:

05:00 - 1/2 cup oatmeal (dry) w/ 1/2 cup soy milk, banana and 90 ml sugar free syrup; 5 egg white omlette w/ 3 T salsa and 30g light havarti
08:00 - 55g Vector cereal
11:00 - WW pita w/ 100g chicken breast; apple sauce; V8
14:00 - Whey Gourmet PB Chocolate shake w/ 1 T cocoa powder
16:30 - Sole w/ steamed veggies and rice
(went out to dinner w/ boyfriend)
18:00 - WW english muffin w/ 3 T light PB; 1/2 cup oatmeal (dry)
20:30 - TH Caramel Cappuccino donut

Actual Gym Work:

- none today (work, bf and family stole my time away)

Hello Donna Lynn,

Hi Katy and welcome! Wow I admire your accomplishments! Amazing! [/QUOTE[

I think that you will find this board such an inspiration! If you have a question, SO many on here are eager to help in any way they can, and the advice is supurb!
That's what I'm hoping for. I used to keep my food log by hand but there was no accountability and if I had a question, it didn't really answer back. ;)

May I ask some of the things that you did to lose the weight you have so far? I'm very interested! Today ends week 6 for me and I have lost 15 lbs so far, but I want to learn all I can!
Congratulations on the weight loss! Those first few months are killer, but I think after a few months it becomes more routine and it isn't quite as hard.

I changed the entire way I lived. I stopped eating fast food, drinking regular pop, started exercising and learned how to prepare my own meals instead of going out or eating what my parents would serve (something very bad). It's funny, when someone asks me how I lost the weight they always seem surprised that I answer with "eating right and exercising, who knew?"

Well, I'm so glad you're here! Your goal is SO close! You'll reach it VERY soon! :tu:
Thank you very much. I really appreciate your compliments and encouragement! I hope you continue being successful with your weight loss.

Who knew eggs, tuna and rice went togeather so well? I tripped and fell bringing in the groceries and my carton of eggs hit the ground, I had to make an omlette to save the eggs (yes, I know they cost about 20 cents each, but I couldn't waste them). Anyway, I'm tired and my day hasn't been the best so instead of going to the gym, I came home and had a nap (a ..power! nap).

Today's Meals:

06:00 - 5 egg white omlette w/ 3 T salsa, 30g light havarti cheese; 1/2 cup oatmeal w/ 1/2 cup soy milk, 40g raisins
09:00 - Detour Bar (S'mores)
13:30 - 5 egg white omlette w/ 85g ginger and sesame tuna, green and yellow peppers and 1 cup brown rice
17:00 - Dutch Hill light hot chocolate w/ 8 oz coffee; 1/2 english muffin w/ 1 T peanut butter
20:00 - Chicken breast w/ mixed vegetables
22:30 - Two milano cookies (I had friends over, they brought junk.. I resisted the pizza, but..)

Tomorrow..

I have more work (yay) and then a few hours of sleep, and more work. I hope to get in an ab workout between those work sessions.

The nice thing about being at work, is that I can control my meals. The bad thing about being at work is that everyone seems to have a candy dish! I share a desk with several other security guards and when I come in on Friday night to start my weekend night shift there's a ton of candy left from the week! Today, since Valentine's is coming up, there's red and white jelly beans, gummy hearts and licorice. When I do my patrols, all I see is are candy dishes everywhere! It drives me mad.. Anyway.

Today's Meals:

05:00 - 1/2 cup oatmeal (dry) w/ 1/2 cup soy milk, banana; 5 egg white omlette w/ 2 T salsa and 30g light havarti
08:00 - GeniSoy LowCarb Crunch (peanut butter)
11:00 - 100g roast beef on 2 slices multigrain bread; strawberries
14:00 - 55g Vector cereal
17:00 - Chicken noodle soup; whole wheat pita
20:00 - 44g whole wheat pasta (dry) w/ tomato sauce, green pepper, onion and chicken breast
21:30 - Dutch Hill light hot chocolate w/ 8oz coffee

Today's Gym Work:

- concentrated on abdominal exercises
(this really helps me relax on Friday's and lets me go to sleep after my 7-15:00 shift so I'm bright eyed and bushy tailed to go back in at 23:00)

Tomorrow...

Ah the night shift. How it messes up my body so.. I will avoid sugar filled food totally. Whenever I have anything with the slightest amount of refined sugar while on the night shift, it always leads to binge eating. I will not indulge in any of the candy dish treats or crap left at the desk by the other employees. Willnoteatsugarwillnoteatsugarwillnoteatsugar.. This will be my mantra during the shift.

Tomorrow I will also go to my first Body Combat class. Should be good ;)

Today was busy and filled with oatmeal. Oh how I love oatmeal. After work I went to my parents house where I met up with my Mom to get our hair done. I got mine cut shortish. Afterwards I crashed on my parents bed and woke up to a cat in my face. Yum! I then went to my first group exercise class at GoodLife - BodyCombat. I really enjoyed it and wow, am I feeling it in my abs. I will definitly go to another class. After that, I crashed on my own bed and here I am back at work.

Edit: Oh, I wanted to post a picture of myself.. It's my student ID from Algonquin College taken in the summer of 2001 and my drivers license taken in the spring of 2004. I posted this before on the forum, but I hosted it on my website and I've since changed sites so the link became invalid blahblahblah.. On Tuesday, I will post a current picture of myself (I want to compare what I look like before my surgery and after).

Today's Meals:

00:00 - 1/2 cup oatmeal w/ banana; V8 V-GO
03:00 - 28g almonds, 40g dried prunes; 8 oz coffee w/ Dutch Hill light hot chocolate
06:00 - 2 kiwis, strawberries; whey lemon ice tea
07:00 - 1/2 english muffin w/ 1 T peanut butter
09:30 - 1/2 cup oatmeal
20:00 - 1/2 cup oatmeal w/ 1/2 cup soy milk, banana; 5 egg white omlette w/ 30g light havarti, 3 T salsa
22:30 - 12 oz coffee w/ hazelnut creamer

Today's Gym Work:

- BodyCombat (1 hour)

Tomorrow...

Sunday is my worst day. I hate it. It's the day I am most likely to overeat and indulge in large quantities of junk food. It is also Pancake Sunday (an event my roommate and I host every Sunday for our friends - we make pancakes and load them up with toppings and watch movies). I will have to be very strict with myself today because I do not want to overindulge! Here are my goals for Sunday:

- do not dip into the candy bowl at work
- eat regularly (eg. the meals I brought to work)
- eat a small meal when you wake up (eg. oatmeal, pb on english muffin) so you aren't tempted to eat a million pancakes
- have three pancakes; two with fruit toppings, one with candy toppings and use low sugar syrup
- have something to eat before going to work (eg. chicken and veggies) even though friends may still be at house watching movies

Wish me luck ;)

AMAZING work so far Katy, holy cow!!!! I can't wait to compare the driver's license pic with your new one!

Congrats on all your success, well deserved.

Ahh today was amazing. After I got home from work I slept straight until 4pm. Nice, solid eight hours of sleep. I really needed it too, I was exhausted! Another great thing about today is that I followed my meal plan and did not indulge in the candy dish or gorge myself of pancake topings. I am really happy.

Today's Meals:

00:00 - GeniSoy LowCarb Crunch (chocolate chip); V8 V-GO
03:00 - 100g roast beef w/ 2 slices multigrain bread; apple sauce; half protein lemon ice tea
06:00 - 56g peanuts, 40g raisins; light hot chocolate w/ 8oz coffee
16:00 - 1/2 cup oatmeal (dry) w/ 1/2 cup soy milk; banana
18:00 - 3 pancakes (2 with fruit, 1 with chocolate and pb chips); syrup (ran out of low sugar, used Aunt Jemima regular)

- wasn't hungry enough to eat a pre work meal, the pancakes were very filling tonight (I think the regular syrup was too much for me, it seemed too sweet)

Tomorrow's Goals:

- do not snack on candy dish while at work
- go to gym and do cardio/weights
- eat properly, don't super indulge on Valentines Day treats
- take stock of groceries I need before going in for surgery

Ahh I didn't have a chance to update my journal for Monday, so I'll do it right now. For a moment, pretend this is Monday night, okay?

Work was tough, I didn't put my food away and it kept staring at me so I ate it all and didn't follow my meal times.

Today's Meals:

00:00 - 2 slices multigrain bread w/ 100g roast beef
01:30 - 56g almonds/peanut mix; 40g raisins; GeniSoy LowCarb Crunch (chocolate)
03:00 - 1 pouch maple and sugar instant oatmeal
04:00 - Light hot chocolate
14:30 - 5 egg omlette w/ 30g light havarti and 3 T salsa; 1/2 cup dry oatmeal w/ 1/2 cup soy milk; banana
18:30 - Whole wheat pasta w/ tomato sauce and chicken
20:00 - Cinnamon bun w/ chocolate icing
23:30 - 4 VDay chocolates

Gym Work:

- 10 minute seated cycle
(I still have a cold, didn't want to over exert myself on cardio)
- legs

Tomorrow... (Today):

I'm freaked out. Wednesday is the day of my surgery (I'm having a tummy tuck to remove excess skin from my previous weight loss) and it was okay when the surgery was two weeks away.. no big deal. But now it's ... less than 24 hours away. Gahalsdjf~!

Anyway. I'm also planning on going skating on the Rideau Canal with some friends. I think we're planning on getting dinner and also a BeaverTail (http://www.beavertailsinc.com/) later on.

So, my goals for the day are:
- do tons of laundry
- rent a bunch of videos for my recovery
- go to the gym for my last workout for 6 weeks (gaaaah)
- go to class (boo)
- have fun, but do not overindulge at the restaurant!

I think the Rideau Canal is scared of me. Both days I had planned to go skating on it, it decided to close. So instead, my friends and I went out for some Pho and to Dairy Queen for dessert. Yeah, I indulged. I had the peanut butter blizzard. The Pho was amazing, I hadn't had any in a year.

Today's Menu:

08:30 - 5 egg white omlette w/ 3 T salsa and 30g light havarti; 1/2 cup oatmeal w/ 1/2 cup soy milk, banana
13:00 - 2 slices multigrain bread w/ 85g sesame and ginger tuna; V8; apple sauce
18:00 - 5 strawberries; 3 VDay chocolates (they were staring at me funny)
20:00 - Medium Pho (chicken, beef ball and medium flank steak); medium peanut butter cup blizzard
23:30 - Two GeniSoy LowCarb Crunch (peanut butter and chocolate chip) [hey, the hospital recommended I eat something before midnight]

Today's Gym Work:

I was bad.. I had so much running around to do I didn't get a chance to go to the gym. By the time I was done, it was time to meet my friends.

Tomorrow...:

I cannot eat or drink after midnight and my surgery isn't until 13:30 tomorrow. Katy will be hungry (insert godzilla roar).

I was thinking about what my plan of attack should be in regards to my meal schedule while I'm laid up.. I eat a lot of food now, mostly because I've been so active at the gym and my life in general. While recovering from my surgery, I won't be as active and I was thinking maybe I should cut back on some of my meals. For example, maybe split the omlette and oatmeal into two different meals instead of all at once. I was also thinking of cutting my carbs after lunch and not having the pasta or rice dishes for my evening meal.

I'm really concerned about my food choices while I'm recovering. I'm worried that since I'm not going to be able to go to the gym for six weeks that I'll gain and lose my muscle mass. Anyway, since I can't go to the gym, once I'm able to walk around I was thinking about taking long walks around town for some activity. Maybe bring my camera and take a few photos.. Something to do besides sitting on the couch.

Anyway, I gotta brush my teeth before the cut off time and then .. be nervous :) Goodbye loose skin.

Heh. So, I had my surgery. While the surgeon was marking up my belly he kept making comments like "wow, you have a lot of loose skin" and "this is going to be good/look nice". That made me feel good going into the surgery. I'm feeling good now, but it's weird.. I know it's going to take a while to heal and see the results, but I don't feel jiggly like I used to.

Today's Meals:

(I don't have any times for these)
- 4 arrowroot cookies; 2 cups cranberry juice
- onion bagle w/ cream cheese
- large bottle Orangina
- english muffin w/ 2 T pb (maybe - I haven't had this yet)

Tomorrow...:

I predict there will be lots of sleeping and vegging in front of the TV. I won't snack though (I don't think I could).

Today has been a blur. I woke up early to go to the bathroom and got very dizzy. I almost didn't make it back to my room. The dizzyness continued all morning until I managed to get downstairs and have something to eat. It was weird, I had to do everything in shifts. Get up, toast english muffins, sit down for 30 mins, get up, put pb on muffins, go back, wait 30 mins, get back up for V8.. etc. I have never felt like that before. A little scary. My meals are off the wall, I'm mostly eating snack foods, not scheduled meals. I hope I can get back to eating regular meals tomorrow.

I will have to remember to take a bottle of orange juice and a protein bar up to bed with me so I don't have another dizzy spell tomorrow morning.

I can already feel a difference from before when I had the loose skin and now (even though I'm still swollen). I can't wait to see what my stomach will look like when it's completely healed.

Today's Meals:

- whole wheat english muffin w/ 4 T pb
- 200g roast beef; 2 V8's
- bottle of orange juice
- GeniSoy LowCarb Crunch (chocolate)
- 1/2 cup oatmeal w/ 1/2 cup soy milk; 40g raisins
- 2 cups chocolate soy milk

Another blur. Daytime TV sucks and I miss the gym.

Today's Meals:

03:00 - Detour bar (caramel peanut)
08:30 - 1/2 cup oatmeal w/ 1/2 cup soy milk and strawberries; 300ml orange juice
10:00 - Light hot chocolate w/ 8 oz coffee
13:00 - 5 egg white omlette w/ 4 T salsa and 30g light havarti
14:30 - Honey bran muffin (small, home made)
17:00 - Low carb tortilla w/ 100g turkey and 30g light havarti
18:30 - 110g Vector cereal; 300ml orange juice
21:30 - 2 honey bran muffins (small, home made)

I feel much better today, although I did sleep half the day away. That may explain things ;)

Today's Meals:

03:00 - GeniSoy LowCarb Crunch (peanut butter)
07:30 - 1/2 cup oatmeal (dry) w/ 1/2 cup soy milk; 40g raisins; 1.5 cups orange juice
12:30 - Low carb tortilla w/ 100g turkey, 3T salsa, 30g light havarti; can tomato juice; 1 cup sugarfree jello
14:30 - Light hot chocolate w/ 8 oz coffee
17:00 - 2 slices multigrain bread w/ 4 T peanut butter (approx - the peanut butter should be in lock up)
20:00 - 2 cups chicken noodle soup
22:00 - Bowl of strawberries (yum)

Okay, we're going to have to pretend this morning is actually Sunday night, as I forgot to update my journal.

I felt so much better yesterday, although I still had the drains in, I hardly noticed they were there. I am feeling bloated though, although that's due to some ... complications with the medicines. I had my typical Sunday night cheat meal (pancakes!) and I saw my boyfriend for the first time since the surgery. It was a good night.

Today's (Sundays) Meals:

02:00 - GeniSoy LowCarb Crunch (chocolate chip)
(gotta stop waking up so early and eating a snack)
08:00 - 1/2 cup oatmeal (dry) w/ 1/2 cup soy, 90ml low sugar syrup and 40g raisins; orange juice
14:00 - Low carb tortilla w/ 100g turkey, 30g light havarti, 3 T salsa; low sugar jello cup; V8
17:00 - 3 pancakes (1 w/ cherry pie filling, 1 w/ choc and pb chips, 1 plain), low sugar syrup, orange juice; handfuls of candy (skittles, chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, marshmellows)

Yay, I got the drainage things out. I feel so much better. I got a peak at my tummy and it looks so much different. But I can tell, I am still very, very swollen. Next week I get the stitches out :D

Today's Meals:

06:30 - Flax bagel w/ light cream cheese; orange juice
08:30 - Serving of honey nut cheerios
13:00 - 2 cups chicken noodle soup; light hot chocolate
15:30 - 35g All Bran w/ small amount of soy milk and strawberries
17:45 - Chicken breast w/ thai stiry fry veggies and tomato sauce
21:00 - 58g peanuts and 1/2 cup oatmeal (dry)

Tomorrow...

I have to venture out in the great outdoors to do the following:
- go to class and hand in project
- go to gym and suspend membership till March 28
- rent movies to watch during the day (daytime tv is melting my brain)

Ohh wow.. Today was the first shower since the surgery. It felt so good. I also spent a lot of time out of the house today, which also felt good. Although I got tired quickly and had a nap when I got home. While I was out I picked up a few groceries and I am really impressed with PC's Blue Menu (http://presidentschoice.ca/FoodAndRecipes/). Since I'm studying marketing and I actually have a genuine interest in marketing (not just taking it for something to take) as well as healthy living, I ranted and raved about the new line of food to my mom who nodded and smiled. Anyway..

I also went to a cafe and had a latte, when did the 'small' cup become obsolete? The smallest latte I could order was a medium.

Today's Menu:

08:00 - 1/2 cup oatmeal (dry) w/ 1/2 cup soy milk, 45ml sugar free syrup and 40g raisins; orange juice
12:00 - Powerbar Protein Plus (fudge brownie)
14:30 - Medium Caramel Brittle latte (Bridgehead)
16:00 - Chicken Oriental salad and fruit and yogurt parfait (McDonalds)
19:30 - Black bean beef noodles w/ veggies (Presidents Choice)
23:30 - 100g turkey

Tomorrow...

I have a midterm on Thursday morning, so I plan on studying all day.

I got a lot accomplished today. Studied for my midterm, figured out some stuff for a project and watched way too many hours of Star Trek TNG reruns. I had a major eating attack today, although it wasn't too bad (the peanut butter and crackers stayed in the cupboard).

Today's Menu:

02:00 - 2 light hot chocolates
09:00 - 5 egg white omlette w/ 4 T salsa and 30g light feta; large orange juice
12:00 - Reduced fat roasted vegetable lasanga (PC Blue); bowl of stawberries
15:00 - 100g turkey; 5 jelly beans; light hot chocolate w/ 8 oz coffee
18:30 - Chicken Szchewan (PC Blue); V8
21:00 - 2 cups chicken noodle soup; old, strike that, aged to perfection pickles
Whenever I'm near the cupboard - sugarfree merenges (thankfully, they are 15 call per serving)

Tomorrow...:

- write midterm
- go out for lunch w/ bf - don't go crazy eating
- .. not sure what else :)

Today was amazing. I ate way too much, but I don't regret it. After I wrote my exam I met the bf for lunch. We didn't know where to go but we spotted The Works (http://www.worksburger.com/) and since I know the bf is a meat and potato kind of guy, I threw caution to the wind and found a parking spot. It was delicious. I haven't had a beef burger and fries in a long time, wow. Just wow. After, we went back to my place and watched a movie. Then, I dropped him off home and picked up my Dad at work and my parents decide to treat me to a 12 inch chicken teriyaki sub from Subway. Score :D So I'm sitting here, watching Survivor, completely stuffed. I think I did too much today, I'm tired and a bit sore. Tomorrow I will try and relax a bit.

Today's Menu:

06:30 - 1/2 cup oatmeal (dry) w/ 1/2 cup soy milk and 45ml low sugar syrup; 5 egg white omlette w/ 4 T salsa and 30g light havarti; glass of orange juice
12:00 - Hamburger w/ bacon and cheese; french fries (The Works)
15:30 - 2 T light peanut butter
18:45 - Footlong chicken teriyaki sub (Subway)

Tomorrow...:

- rest
- meet up with teh bf for some movie watching
- rest
- clean up house for Oscar party
- think up healthy snack options for Oscar party and create shopping list

Ugh..

I just ate a bunch of crackers and tons of peanut butter.

Bleeeeeeeeeeh.

Today's Meals:

- 1/2 cup oatmeal w/ 1/2 cup soy milk, 45ml low sugar syrup and 40g raisins
- 5 egg white omlette w/ 30g light havarti and 4 T salsa
- random CostCo samples
- low carb tortilla w/ 100g fat free turkey, lettuce, 2 T salsa and 30g light havarti
- low carb tortilla w/ 100g chicken, lettuce, 2 T salsa and 2 T light miracle whip
- 2 light hot chocolates