Okay everyone – I have counted your votes + advice on what I should do to get rid of my bloggers butt.
The #1 most talked about advice for me to lose weight was to was keep track of my calories/exercise plus using the Myfitnesspal website or app. So it looks like I will be counting my calories for my 30 day challenge! Woo hoo! I am hoping I enjoy this and it becomes a lifestyle change for me.
For the exercise many of you suggested the Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred (Amazon.com) so I will also be doing that during this 30 days. Once every day Monday-Saturday I will be sweating to the 30-day shred. I am going to Walmart today to pick up a copy for around $7. I hope my out of shape body can handle it…
Getting Started – The Prep Work
So I went online and went to myfitnesspal.com and started a free account. It was really easy and I can see why so many people like using this feature. You basically enter in your age, weight, height and how active you are (PS – its pretty sad that I had to use the sedentary option…since I am on the computer a lot). You then enter your goal weight and how many lbs you would like to lose. It will then calculate all the calories you should be having each day for you. Mine was 1200 calories, and I think if I add more exercise it will add more calories for you. Then you can add the food you eat all day long and it will tell you how many calories you have left – soooo cool!
For my food though I wanted a plan. After reading your comments I was absolutely intrigued by a few mentions of the Primal/Paleo lifestyle way of eating. Basically no dairy, or bread/grains or sugar. I want to try it out for a week or so – just because it sounds so interesting. I love many of the foods it offers. I will still be using myfitnesspal to make sure I stay in my calorie range and keep track of every morsel that goes into my mouth.
Here is my Meal plan for this week and possibly repeating for the next week if I can stand it…or I might find some fun new recipes to try in the meantime as well. If you do Paleo please share with me your favorite go-to recipes too!
Monday
Breakfast – Paleo pancake with pure maple syrup (and yes I will be making this for the kids too…muhahaha)
Lunch – Turkey Avocado Sandwich made with Paleo Bread + A Spinach Salad with Slivered Almonds and a few sprays of Wishbone salad spritzer
Dinner – Making Chicken with Vegetables in parchment – kind of like this idea here (Basically just adding zuchinni, onions and other vegetables to this with some salt)
Snacks – ApplesTuesday
Breakfast – 2 Scrambled Eggs, herbal tea, 1 Pear
Lunch – Homemade Chicken Vegetable Soup, Pineapple (about 1 cup)
Dinner – Cobb Salad with bacon and chicken, eggs (no cheese) – prob about 3 cups
Snack- ApplesWednesday
Breakfast – Almond butter Smoothie (This could be the one and only time I have this…could be good or nasty….lol)
Lunch – I plan on taking like 5-6 Zucchini’s, slicing them length wise, spritzing on olive oil + salt and roasting. Plus some Pineapple + Almonds
Dinner – Paleo Chicken Enchiladas
Snacks – Apple + AvocadoThursday
Breakfast – 2 scrambled eggs, herbal tea
Lunch – – Turkey Avocado Sandwich made with Paleo Bread + A Spinach Salad with Slivered Almonds and a few sprays of Wishbone salad spritzer
Dinner – Going to Add Chicken to my crockpot, and some spices/tomato, and use it for lettuce wraps.
Snacks – PearsFriday –
Breakfast – Paleo pancake again
Lunch – Chicken Veg soup again + pineapple
Dinner – Homemade Coconut Chicken Bites + salad
Snacks – appleSaturday –
Breakfast – herbal tea
Lunch – roasted zucchini + pineapple
Dinner – Roasted Chicken + cauliflower mashed potatoes and salad
Dessert – most likely something like this if I can make it Raw Cashew Dream CakeSunday –
Breakfast – probably another slice of last nights dessert..lol
Lunch – Turkey sandwich
Dinner – Fish/Chicken in Parchment with vegetables
Snacks – apples or pineapple + almonds
Yikes…I have to go shopping today and find a bunch of “Natural” type of foods that I have never purchased like Coconut Oil, Almond Flour, Coconut Flour, Almond butter etc. Hoping I can find them at Winco…and praying they won’t be too dang expenive…
I am going to start on Monday! Which pretty much means I am going to go nuts today and eat like I will never eat again. I always do this right before a diet (I know its horrible….lol). Oh come on – you know you do this too.
PS – here is my before picture – I weigh approx 24 lbs over what my ideal weight is. PS – I HATE you Christmas and Thanksgiving…you two are not my favorite holidays anymore (Stomping my foot like a 4 year old). Note: this is THE HARDEST thing I have ever had to post…I hate sharing so much about myself and my diet when I haven’t even lost the weight yet. I mean, what happens if I fail?? Oh the shame…the shame.
What? Is this picture too small?? Oh sorry about that…(Ha ha, not really). I guess you could click on it if you want to see it bigger…but I don’t think you really want to – your eyes, your poor poor eyes…
Anyone else want to join me on this Weight Loss 30-day challenge? You don’t have to do the exact things I am doing… just take a before picture and make a plan. Stick with it with me for 30 days and take a picture after. Along the way we can chat about how much we hate love all the self control, sore bodies and watching the lbs melt away.
About Karrie
Food is my love language. But so is saving money. So I like to combine the two a lot and make thrifty make ahead and freeze meals to save time. Because life is busy, and freezer meals can come to the rescue for all of us. And yes, they actually CAN taste good. Read more...
Comments & Reviews
Jessica says
I just got 3 of Jillian Michaels’ DVDs from Amazon when they were on sale…the only thing I need now is a good yoga mat for my hard floor. I will do this challenge with you too! I’m inspired and have been feeling pretty dumpy lately because if I am not on the computer doing homework I am on it using Facebook and reading blogs for the best deals! Haha…I need to lose about 30 pounds to be at my ideal weight…so I’m on it!
TATIANA says
Ok so this might be a weird offer …. but i’ll tell you anyway lol. I love vitacost- they have great selection and prices, and they have a refer a friend deal where you refer someone and you both get $10 off – I would send you the coupon link if you are interested (and lets face it, i would love another $10 off from there because I want to buy everything!!!). Just email me if you are.
Karrie says
Hiya Amber – I would love to have you join me, I just watched the video yesterday and purchased 2 little 3lb weights. Thanks for the compliment – I was laughing so hard trying to “suck in” for the before pictures but my hubby said no I shouldnt so we were being very silly. 🙂
suzie says
not sure if this is “paleo” style, but I did hcg 3 rounds and lost 45 lbs and one of my favorite things as an alternative to bread is mug bread, you can make this savory or sweet, it breaks down in your body like a protein not a carb… its 1/2 cup flaxseed meal, 1/2 tspn baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon of butter melton, cinnamon, stevia and 1 egg, you mix all the wet ingredients together in a mug, then mix all the dry ingredients and pour in to coffee mug, stir it up, its almost like a paste, then microwave for 1 min 30 seconds, it will slide right out of the mug like a mini loaf of bread, it has 200 calories in it, you can switch up the recipe and add parmesean and other spices to make it savory too.
Trish says
Well, crud. You went and posted a before pic, so now I just KNOW your going to have an awsome after pic (because your dedicated just look at this here blog) therefore, I too, want a good after pic….so I’m in. (Sigh, moan, cry, kick ) I soooo need to sugar-ify after the holidays. Ack. Can’t beleive I’m posting this.
Karrie says
Woo hoo Trish! Join me…yes yes yes! We can do it — Strength in numbers…
Jennifer says
I am sooo with you, I need a support partner. My husband says he’s on the see food diet which help me none.
Karrie says
Oh I am going to miss the see food diet…its my favorite one..ha ha
Julie says
Just outta curiority are you a member at a gym?
Karrie says
No, I did a 7 day trial over at Lifequest..but dont want to fork over the money unless I am dedicated you know? So maybe this 30 day challenge will help me become a more decidated fitness person so I can justify paying for a membership.
Kritina MC. says
hehe. I’m really really good at buying everything I need to lose weight and then never really trying. I have a never opened Zumba and Abe Belt. I think I do the myfitnesspal but I have to find a different food plan. I just don’t care for the taste of anything but grease. hehehe
Karrie says
I know, I love grease too… this is going to be hard but now that my before pic is up..I must do it, right? LOL
Lisa Thompson says
I know that you can find the maple syrup and the coconut oil at Winco. Not too badly priced, either…I am encouraged to try this. We pretty much already eat the Paleo way, maybe some more tweaking will be good. I dont have the Jillian Michaels shred dvd, but I do have my treadmill…Keeping good thoughts for you..YOU CAN DO IT!!!
Karrie says
Thanks! I did find most all ingredients at Winco, except the funky flours. I found them at Yokes though. 🙂 Ooooh were they pricey though…
Becky says
We switched as a family to Paleo about 6 months ago. My husband immediately lost 20 lbs and I am able to maintain my weight without hardly any exercise.
We were pretty healthy eaters before, but I really enjoy how we eat now. The quality of food is better and we feel better too!
Another option for the zucc’s is to make a “pizza” with it. You use the zucc as the base and then layer it up with tomato sauce and lots of other veggie toppings and bake. Yum!
Also Traders Joes has the best price on coconut oil right now. It really is yummy. We make our own Almond butter in the food processor with it and it is like candy!
Becky says
okay when I say like candy I don’t mean like red vines or any fake food (that i adore), but it is really good for a snack with celery and extremely yummy with dark chocolate!
tasha says
i think it’s fabulous that you are doing this and i hope to join you! i have had the 30 day shred DVD for MONTHS and it’s still in the packaging….. so here’s to opening it up on Monday! 🙂 (I’m also from the Tri Cities! Live in the PDX area now but a TC girl at heart.)
Karrie says
YAY Tasha!! Open it up, open it up! We can complain about our painful arms and legs together the next day…lol. Oh and yep, once a Tri-City girl, always a Tri-Cities girl… so true. 😉
Melody says
Good luck! Such a wonderful thing you are doing and I guarantee, by posting it you will hold yourself WAY more accountable. 🙂 If you can’t find them at Winco, Amazon has a great deal on Nutiva coconut oil right now. Also check Vitacost, their shipping is pretty quick.
Can’t wait to see how you do!
Karrie says
Thanks Melody! True true, the pressure is on now that its been posted. 🙂 Great idea on the Coconut oil – I should check out Vitacost for those specialty items. Thanks!
Kari says
let me know you are interested in getting any azure products at wholesale. check out their website
Theresa says
I love 30 day shred. I could see a difference after 1 week. Master your Marabolism is a great book to read also!
Karrie says
Thanks Theresa – I am going to just watch the 30day shred today, to see if I need any equipment…
janet says
Karrie, if you can’t find what you need at Winco, you might try Super One Foods (if you have one where you live), they have “Huckleberries”, a natural food section. Fred Meyers also has a good selection, not promising how well you will like the prices at either though. Here is a link to Tropical Traditions for the VERY BEST coconut oil (I am not affiliated with them, but a happy customer). Good luck on your journey!
http://www.tropicaltraditions.com/
nitasha says
Count me in please! Actually, my co-worker and I planned out our 30 day plan yesterday! It includes a lot of walking and Zumba! Think I will add the 30 Day Shred to my workout too! I have had this DVD for quite a while, but ummm have never used it! Thanks for the boost! GOOD LUCK! You can do it!!!!
Karrie says
Thanks Nitasha! Yeay, so glad you are joining me…I do love me some ZUMBA too..its just so fun. I might try to squeeze in a few of those workouts somewhere too if I can. Good luck to you too!!