Breakfast:
Cream of Wheat w/ tblsp Cocoa Powder
Navel Orange
Orange Juice
Water
Core - No Points

Lunch:
Vegan Chix Stir Fry
Brown Rice
Corn w/ Earth Balance Butter*
Small Granny Smith Apple w/ Drizzle of Light Agave*
Mandarin Orange
Water
Core - No Points

Dinner:
More Vegan Chix Stir Fry*
Corn w/ Earth Balance Butter
Mandarin Orange
Water
Core - No Points

~ indicates non-core item but totals 0pts

For the last year I have tried to run and master my elliptical’s track 3. I was never able to do it. I always thought I was in pretty good shape but I was never really able to run with the high resistance and the quick raise and drop… it just wore me out and I couldn’t breathe. I was never able to run with the target heart rate (high) and so I just gave up and resolved to run on #1 & 2.. or simply use no program at all.

 Well… tonight I started running 10mins on program 1 when I thought.. “eh, what the hell lets give #3 a shot” .. so I did. I was exhausted, I sweat buckets, I listened to 1 track the entire time on my ipod because it was accidently set on repeat.. and what was that song? Britney Spears - Gimmie More.. (yes, yes, I know….) but I did it.

Did you hear me?? I DID IT! I completed track #3 WITH target heart rate. I never thought I could do it.. but I did it!!

 and.. I cried.

I get a lot of questions about exercise, dieting, and pleauing and I think I usually give pretty sound advice… but I have been frustrated and going back and forth about my own plateu.. so I sat down and thought…

What would I tell someone who came to me with a 6month plateu?

I would tell them to re-evaluate the food they are taking in, start writting down everything they eat, get rid of the sugars, add more water, and do both cardio & weight training.. cardio to burn fat and calories and the weight training to build muscle which will help in the long run by burning calories at rest. Add lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, and replaced anything with high sugar or sodium content.

So there you have it… I am taking my own advice. I am getting old school on Core.. I am chaning my work out routine to include 30mins on the elliptical and then a 30min FIRM video.

Breakfast:
Cold Bran Cereal
Banana
Lite Soy Milk
Water
Core - No Points

Lunch:
Vegetarian Veg. Soup
2 Mandarin Oranges
Water
Core - No Points

Dinner:
BBQ Tempeh
Corn
Mashed Potatoes
3 Mandarin Oranges
Banana
Water
Core - No Points

Snack:
1 Navel Oranges
1c Hot Cocoa
1c Raspberry Tea w/ Lite Soy Milk
Water
Core - No Points

Breakfast:
Cold Bran Cereal
Lite Soy Milk
2 Mandarin Oranges
Water
Core - No Points

Lunch:
Tomato & Onion Salad
Balsamic Vinegar & Olive Oil Dressing
Corn
1 Slice Whole Wheat Bread
Water
Core - 1pt

Dinner:
BBQ Tempeh
Corn
Mashed Potatoes
Cantaloupe Slices
Water
Core - No Points

Snack:
3 Mandarin Oranges
1c Hot Cocoa
1c Sleepytime Tea
Water
Core - No Points

I know some people who will not shop Old Navy because they only carry their plus sizes online.. I am not one of them. I shop there because its cheap, the clothes are decently well made, and I have never had a problem.. that is, until now.

I didn’t mind shopping online because at 300lbs it was just easier on my self esteem to shop online.. no humiliation from trying on clothes that were light years away from fitting, no stoopid teenagers gawking at me, no smug remarks about how I should join a gym (yeah, like I needed more embarrassment)… and if they didn’t fit, I returned them. No harm done and I got lots of nice clothes with my self esteem in tact. However…… at a size 16/18 I am an XL by Old Navy’s standards. (Yay! I’m out of plus clothes!!) However, this year I decided to buy a winter coat from them… I bought the first week of November. I am STILL waiting. So, finally after our first snow I call their customer service only to be told it was never ordered and they are now sold out. uhm……… WTF!? I ordered via their 1-800 number to make sure they had my size and color preferences in stock. The sales girl took my information and assured me it would come before Thanksgiving. The sales guy I talked to the second time offered to order something else for me.. is he on crack?! I just told him this is my winter coat and I live in MICHIGAN! So, I refused and told him I would purchase elsewhere…

So I run around the city in a tizzy.. amidst all of the holiday shopping… to find a winter coat…. all the while freezing my boobs off. What the hell is wrong with people this year!? Have you seen the coats out there???? After going to about 7 stores and only finding autumn jackets and puff vests (yeah those will keep me warm in MICHIGAN!) where did I end up buying my coat at? Yup, you guessed it. Old Navy.

I guess I am a loyal shopper after all.