Shelley: Day 1 - Priorities!!

Welcome Day 1!!  I love the first week.  It's so easy to drop weight in the beginning.  It always feels so good.  I'm always a bit hungry until my stomach adjusts to my smaller portions but it's nothing I can't handle with a little Skinny Pop or chicken broth (that tells you just how hard I have to work to keep my portions in check).

Above, is an actual screen shot from my Lost It App.  Lose It has this cool new feature that allows you to track your steps as long as your carry it around with you.  Normally, I run for an hour and then do an hour of weight training.  However, today, was house cleaning day.  Once a week, my amazing mother-in-law takes my kids for the morning/noon and I go cleaning-ninja on my house.  It's the only way I ever get anything done and I love Tuesdays for that reason.

I did the math and I burn about .05 calories per extraneous step.  So I took the number 7,338 and multiplied it by 0.05 to come up with my additional calorie burn today.  I've been taking my kids on at least a one mile bike ride each day, in addition to my own workout (I have twins who are 2 and a little man who just turned 4).  We're not super fast, but we get places.  Anyway, given my walking I burned 364-ish calories.

Tomorrow, I'll be back at the gym with my heart rate monitor (worth it's weight in gold!).  I'm dying to hear how everyone else's day went.  Tag & Heather, I still need you to email/text your current and goal weights so I can set up your tickers.  I'm so excited you're joining us!  Trish is in Vegas trying very hard to be good.  We'll be checking in with her when she gets back.  Katie, my friend, don't forget to blog!!!!!

I am a strict calorie counter.  I am not big on fad diets.  I believe in simple math and the mantra DO MORE, EAT LESS.  I calculate my BMR and everything I eat under that is weight loss.  3,800 calories = 1 Lb.  Below is my intake for the day and below that I will do my BMR Calc for you.

To figure out your BMR you can use this calculator:
http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/

My Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) is 1678.7.

Today's Breakdown:

Budget 1,399 Food 1,275 Exercise -364 Net 911 Under 488

Breakfast: 225 Flatbread Breakfast Sandwich 1 1/8 Servings 225 Lunch: 615 Zupas Cuban Grilled Pork Sami 1 Serving 400 Zupas Tuscan White Bean 8 Oz 1 Serving 140 Small Chocolate Covered Strawberry 1 Serving 75 Dinner: 280 Beef, Rib Eye Steak, Broiled, Choice, 0" Trim 3 Ounces 225 Squash, Zucchini, w/ Skin, Large 1 Each 55 Snacks: 155 Skinny Pop 4 Cups 155 Exercise: 364 Walking 3.5 mph, brisk 1 Hour 10 Min 364

BMR CALC:  (1678.7+364)-(1,275+200 for random snitching)= 567.7 Deficit for today (YAY!!!)  (Again, 3,800 Calories = 1 Lb)

I decided today to also take photos.  I was so bummed I didn't do this the last time because I know my body has changed a ton with the first 40 lbs I lost.  If I hit my goal I promise to post the before and after.

TODAY'S TIP:  Priorities!!!  Each day I like to add something that has helped my obtain my weight loss goals.  Some of these are very esoteric so feel free to ignore and I hope you'll add your own when you have them.  

My tip today is to do exactly what your Mom always told you to do, eat your veggies first.  Actually, I generally drink a 24 ounce glass of water before a meal and then eat my veggies, followed by my protein, and then on to my "dessert", the fruit.  By doing this, I ensure that I don't over-induge on the stuff that can really bring a calorie watcher down.  If I started with fruit, I would eat WAY too much of their sweet sugary goodness and ignore my lower calorie and lower-glycemic index veggie friends.  Don't get me wrong, I love fruit, I just try to satisfy myself first with the things I really need.  When I employ this method, by the time I get to "dessert" I'm usually in pretty good control of my wants.  

I can't wait to hear how your days went!  Until tomorrow. . .