3 week mark...

It's been a couple of weeks, but I was honestly waiting for some actual results to be able to post. I mean, yes, I've lost some weight, but not a staggering amount. For some reason it never feels real to me until I notice it in my clothes. So today, I went to the mall by myself for awhile (for some much needed "Holly time"), and of course, ventured into the Loft where they were having a great 40% off sale. I began picking up some things to try on, and because they didn't have my size, I decided to go a size down. Now, I'm short (aka "petite"), so it's important to remember that anything in a petite size is smaller (not just shorter) than the same item in a regular size. I tried on a pair of parents one size down in a petite, and they FIT. I then tried on a super cute dress, also a size down and it also fit perfectly. Yay! I didn't buy either item (the dress wouldn't have worked for work, and the pants I almost bought, but they were a dark purple color that I didn't have anything to match). The most motivating thing for me is when I notice a difference in my clothes. The weight loss has slowed...we're at 6lbs, maybe 7, depending on the time of day. But, I've lost inches and a whole size in my clothes. I'm still beginning my day with Plexus Slim mixed into a tall glass of water, one accelerator, and probiotics. The bottom line is that it helps to control hunger and boosts metabolism. It works! I'm also working out 4 days per week. So...in 3 weeks I've lost 6-7 lbs, and gone down one size. Not bad! www.plexusslim.com/hollywarren

One week...4 lbs?

Okay, I'm in. I know Plexus claims to curb appetite, boost your metabolism, and help you lose weight. But y'all...it does! (If you don't know what I'm talking about, go back and read my post from 7/20). So, it's been 8 days since I began, and I've lost 3-4 lbs, depending on what time of the day I get on the scale. So, let's go with the higher number, right? I mix the slim (nutritional supplement that is in powder form, like Crystal Light) into a tall glass of water in the mornings, and drink it on my way to work. I take one accelerator (tried two, but found it made me jittery, so reduced to one), as well as the probiotics. I always eat breakfast (they say 30 minutes later, but really, I eat a protein bar with the drink and it works for me). I eat a regular lunch and dinner, but I'm no longer overeating. I have truly lost most of my mid-morning and mid-afternoon cravings. I work in an environment where there is always food somewhere, especially candy, or cakes, or something. I LOVE SWEETS, but I haven't had the sweet cravings so I've been able to happily say no. I do still eat some sweets on occasion, but not nearly as often. I've also been working out 4 times a week and drink A LOT of water. For a long time, I read comments from people who posted comments about having stopped drinking soda after they began Plexus. I never thought that would be me. I love soda. I always drink diet, but I typically have about two a day. I don't drink coffee, so it was my source of caffeine, and my go-to if I was stressed. I'm now drinking (after 8 days) one soda every few days!! I Sometime soon, if I keep losing, I'll post before/after pictures. I'm not so concerned with how fast it comes off, just that I'm consistently seeing some loss. Yay!! If you want to read more about what Plexus is, or if you want to order some, here's my site... www.plexusslim.com/hollywarren

It's about time!

So, I haven't posted because my Plexus hadn't arrived yet.  It finally came yesterday afternoon, so I began using it this morning.  I mixed the Plexus Slim into a large glass of water this morning and took the accelerator.  It tastes like cherry Crysal Light and works the same way (meaning you mix it into a glass or bottle of water and it flavors it).  Does it curb appetite?  Yes.  I'm honestly not as hungry as usual.  I eat normally...I had a protein bar this morning and a wrap (whole wheat) with fruit for lunch.  I will make dinner after the kiddos go to bed.  I haven't been craving snacks or anything.  I can TRULY tell a difference when it comes to my appetite! Yay!  I think tomorrow I will take just one accelerator (you are supposed to take two) and see if it makes a difference.  I was a little jittery today in the morning which I think was the caffeine. Last time it didn't affect me, but like I mentioned before, I don't drink much caffeine (just soda, which I have cut WAY back on...maybe why I felt it today), so I am pretty sensitive to it.  A cup of coffee would keep me up for days.  :-)

I also ordered the probiotics and Biocleanse for the first month.  I haven't tried those before, I wanted to see how they worked.  I investigated the ingredients and was really impressed.  They have a good amount of Vitamin C and antioxidants in them, in addition to the traditional stuff.  I have probiotics that I give to Caleb and Reilly whenever they are on antibiotics, so I've spent time investigating various types of children's probiotics.  These look similiar, just difference amounts of the ingredients, which makes sense.

I went to the gym on Monday and Tuesday, but haven't been since because of work.  I plan to try to go Friday and Saturday.  Oh, and I've been drinking water like crazy.  I've had like 70 ounces so far today and I will drink some more with dinner.  I'm going to float away...

Okay, that was day one!  I'll admit...this definitely helps to control my appetite!  I'll give it a few more days and update on the progress.  In the meantime, here's my site if you want to investigate these products for yourself.  As always, if you have ANY health conditions, please consult your doctor with the ingredients.  Though I frequently diagnose my own children, I actually have no formal medical training.  I know, shocking.

www.plexusslim.com/hollywarren

Starting again...this time with a little help...

My last post was in November of 2011.  I found out shortly after that time that I was pregnant, so there ended the weight loss journey.  I did, however, only gain about 15 lbs during my entire pregnancy.  I would like to say that was due to my excellent willpower, but no...it was due to my extreme sickness for all 40 weeks of the pregnancy.

So, time to get serious again.  I have been working out four times a week this summer, but have lost nothing.  :-(  So, I decided to get a little weight loss help. I have a friend on facebook (like someone I know, not someone who I randomly added because I knew someone who maybe knew them once) who has been posting about Plexus Slim for nearly a year.  I've seen others I know use the product and lose weight, so I decided to see what the fuss was about. Plexus is a health and wellness company that sells various wellness supplements (everything from breast exam kits featured on The Doctors to appetite suppressants to probiotics). 

Plexus Slim, the product I chose to try, is a powder that contains various vitamins and minerals (no caffeine) that you add to a bottle of water (or 16 ounces) that curbs your appetite. It takes like cherry Crystal Light. They recommend that you drink it about 30 minutes before a meal.  Plus, and this is important, you need to drink half you body weight in ounces of water per day.  So...just because I need easy numbers...if you weigh 150 lbs, drink 75 ounces of water per day.  That's it.  Does the huge amount of water consumption aid in the appetite suppression?  Uh, yes.  You can't eat a ton of food if your tummy is full of water.  But, IT WORKS.

I only drink one bottle of water with Plexus Slim in the morning (plus lots of regular water the rest of the day) and I can honestly tell a real difference.  I'm not experiencing the cravings or as big of an appetite at meal times, so I can tell I'm eating less. Actually, I'm probably eating the serving size that I'm supposed to be eating!! There is also an "accelerator" that you can take in conjunction with it that is supposed to maximize the weight loss.  It does contain some caffeine (they say don't take this if you have high blood pressure), but I didn't experience any ill effects, and I had my blood pressure checked again after I used it to be safe).  I'm fairly sensitive to caffeine as I have never been a coffee or tea drinker. They also sell various probiotics if you suffer from...well...issues with that.

I did this for a couple of months and lost about 8 lbs.  During that time, I didn't really work out at all.  I attribute the weight loss mostly to portion control that was facilitated by Plexus Slim.  Afterward, it was time for my yearly physical, so I decided to make sure I was healthy before I continued with this.  My physical went great - all sugar levels, cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and EKG were normal.  Yay!  It should be noted that last year my cholesterol level was a little high.  There are too many factors to for me to say Plexus is the reason it went down (I was pregnant last year, I've been exercising, etc.), but nevertheless, everything was perfect.

So...here we go.  I'll make occasional posts letting you know about my progress.  My plan is to work out four times a week (Plexus doesn't require exercise, but it is most effective when joined with a solid workout plan).  I'm also going to be checking in with my primary care physician periodically along my journey.  I will be completely honest through the process.  If it works, great!  If not, I'll tell you that, too.  Bottom line, weight loss comes down to burning more calories than you consume.  Any health/wellness supplement is just that - a supplement that helps you through the process.   I did my research here, and if you have any major health issues, ALWAYS check with your doctor before consuming any supplement. Everyone's body is different.  Remember, the FDA does not review any vitamin or nutritional supplement. 

Oh, and when I ordered Plexus, I signed up to be a distributor (aka "Ambassador") to take advantage of the wholesale prices.  So if, at any point we decide that this works, and you decide to try it too, order it from my site - www.plexusslim.com/hollywarren

I'm siiiick (in a whiny voice)

I went to the doctor today.  I have a double ear infection.  Now I have an excuse for not working out yesterday or today.  However, I got on the doctor's scale and it was 5 lbs higher than the one at home.  What??  Sad!!!  I am getting up early tomorrow to go to the gym, though, I promise! 

I'm hungry and sleepy so I'm going to post the past two days and vamoose!

Tuesday: 
Breakfast - Special K Protein Meal Bar - 170 calories
Lunch - leftover pasta (350 calories), grapes (50 calories), 100 calorie cake
Snack - Starbucks Tall Hot Chocolate with Nonfat Milk - 250 calories (I got the whipped cream)
Dinner - Chipotle chicken burrito bowl - with chips from home that have few calories - 800 calories

Total:  1720 calories

Wednesday:
Breakfast - Special K Protein Meal Bar - 170 calories
Lunch - Fried Chicken breast - 200 calories (this website said 131 http://caloriecount.about.com/calories-chicken-breast-i5059 but I don't believe it.  A KFC breast has 200 so I went with that.  This was from the school cafeteria), salad (50 calories)
Dinner:  Frozen Pizza - I threw away the box, so I don't know. It's pepperoni thin crust.  But look at it this way...my total thus far is 420 (which explains my massive headache at the moment)
so even if it was 1000 (which it's not), I'm still doing okay. 

Total:  I say around 1100. Not bad...maybe some frozen yogurt for dessert?

Overcooked Pasta

Do you know what happens if you drop pasta before the water is completely boiling?  It comes out really gummy, almost overcooked.  Last night I thought the water was close enough, so I went ahead and dropped the pasta.  Mistake.  When I tasted it 10 minutes later (the recommended cooking time for ziti), it was really mushy on the outside and raw on the inside.  Yuck.  I made the ziti with bowtie pasta instead.  It was still yummy!


Breakfast:  Special K Protein bar - 170 calories
Lunch;  leftover pasta (400 calories), grapes (60 calories), 100 calorie cakes
Dinner:  Buffalo chicken cutlets with risotto (600 calories)
Dessert:  ice cream cone - 180 calories (new cones)

Total:  1510 calories - and I went to the gym this morning (yes at 5am)

Back to the real world...

I haven't blogged over the past four days.  I haven't been terrible, although, I did enjoy Thanksgiving.  There may have been a few other splurges here and there (chicken minis are delicious!), but I've definitely been better than in the past.

I love peanut butter pie.  That was probably one of the highlights of Thanksgiving.  My aunt made a peanut butter pie with peanut butter, cream cheese, some yummy crust (oreo?), hot fudge sauce, and whipped cream.  It was delicious.  I have no idea how many calories (a lot), but I ate one piece on Thanksgiving and took home two (small) pieces that I ate on Friday and Saturday.  But hey, that's better than three pieces of pie on one day, right?

So tomorrow's back to work...fifteen work days until Christmas break!  I generally do better with controlling what I eat when I'm working, though.

Anyway, here's today...You'll notice my lunch and dinner are both pasta.  This wasn't planned...I had the leftover spaghetti in the fridge and it seemed better than going out and spending money (and eating lots of calories)...

Breakfast:  Lucky charms - 150 calories
Lunch:  leftover spaghetti - 400 calories, 100 calorie snack (brownies)
Snack:  grapes - 60 calories
Dinner:  Ziti with marinara and asiago cheese sauce (500 calories)
Dessert:  ice cream - 200 calories

Total - 1410 calories - and I went running, too!