July 2020

We are in July 2020, in the middle of the Sars-CoV2 pandemic. I have been confined home since 19 weeks. A real "quarantine" is 6 weeks.
Today, I dared to weight myself on the bathroom scale: 188 Lbs. I have regained the 10 Lbs I lost between the end of January and March 2020 (178 Lbs on April 1st). All my efforts, the diet, good healthy products, exercises, gym, walks, vanished. I feel really discouraged, disgusted by what happened and the lost of control, not only from me, but the total lost of control of the world.
When I intensely work, my brain craves for sugar. Also for a break, with a bite of sweet. When I work for 10 hours in a day, my brain needs food and fuel. When I go to the grocery store and do not find good vegetables or the fruits I wanted, or more over, the prices I used to have, I kinda give up and buy unhealthy choices, bread, pizza, ice creams, fried Asian food, etc... I have been dreaming of eating Japanese food, sushi, but nothing is still currently available.
I know I have to stop this infernal hurricane and go back to a regular healthy life. I am so depressed and not motivated for anything ! Life is just so upside down now !
I will probably get to that point soon, and painfully will lose those extra, then the rest.... But so much pain and distress since ! 
Here the picture of my breakfasts prep:  1/2 cup of rolled oat, 1 teaspoon of chia seeds, one little hand of almonds, water and a pinch of soy milk, overnight in the fridge, served with few berries in the morning, along with my coffee. That is a good solid breakfast of less than 400 cal. At least, starting the day in a healthy way....

April 2020

This year 2020 is not as expected. We need to adjust and adapt to the new ordeal.
April 1st:178 Lbs.
I am going to put this blog on hold given the emergency of the situation. I do my best to maintain a healthy life, with one hour walks outside and a healthy diet and food.
I will try to do some updates....

New starting life

March 2020 won't be as the previous years; Too many things are on the way of change...
Since our gym on campus is closed for virus invasion, some girl friends have decided to start a one month home challenge and I said okay !
Here the plan:
 
I started on March 15, Day 1. I did a good job until the rest day on day 4, then gave up, given the current situation and my stress level !  But I keep taking long walks in nature, as long as it will be possible.

March 21: 179 Lbs . So happy to be leaving the 180's...
March 23: 178 Lbs. I will wait several days to stabilize and celebrate the first 10 Lbs lost ! 
March 29: still 178 Lbs. I, however, lost 10 Lbs already. 
Starting this long quarantine and organizing my life to continue eating healthy and exercising a little....

March 30 : 177 Lbs. I do not know if this is the exercise and walk in nature, or the chocolate ! 

Dinner: tomato soup, tomato salad, Kombucha, clementine

 

Update after one month dieting

March 12: 180 Lbs

Yeah ! I am not in the range of obesity anymore, but started to be in the overweight range, which is much better ! 
I have lost 8 Lbs in one month, a mean of 2 Lbs a week.
I am very proud of myself, do not starve, lose slowly, dis-intoxicated myself from sugar with the help of rolled oats in the morning, increased my intake of fruits and vegetables, became more vegan although not strictly, and overall eat very healthy !. I exercise regularly but not like crazy, and I am happy with this pace. I like the gym with the machines once a week, and walking the loops on the campus. I feel I can definitely do it long term, and adjust when I do have events and festivities (which I had, limiting my slipping out!)
En route for the next month ! (or for the next 8 Lbs loss)

 

Sunny Sunday....

Today, March 8, I am still 182 Lbs. But proud and happy to be doing great, in the good direction. I had a buffet-dinner this week and a dinner on Friday night, and I have been very good at managing !
A little picture of my late lunch-snack tray from Saturday: 2 matsot (120 Cal X2),1/2 avocado, 4 small radish, salmon cream (Ikea), light chive cream cheese, and the orange stuff is seaweed from Ikea, with 0 calories ! The whole plate is more than 500 cal, but really filling and tasty...

 March 9: 181 Lbs.
March 11: 180 Lbs.

New week....

Spent my week-end cooking for the week and walking 10,000 steps more (burn ~500 cal!). I prepared a stir fry with a little bit of olive oil in the pan, tofu, and lot of vegetables (cauliflower, peas, spinach, fresh cilantro and basil, carrots, water chestnuts, onions and garlic) I put some coconut milk, curry powder and sesame seeds. It is very tasty ! and low calorie for a portion (~200). I serve with Basmati rice cooked with my rice cooker (250 gr raw for 5 portions), and meal prep for the week.

Env. 400 cal/portion

Week-ends are also time for tasty and healthy smoothies ! Here: Chia seeds, flaxeed, soy milk, strawberries, raspberries and blueberries, env. 400 cal.

My diet diary...

Wednesday March 4: 182 Lbs. I am looking forward to getting rid  of those two Lbs and finally entering the overweight range and leaving the obese one; Two  pounds more.

March

Sunday, March 1st:183 Lbs.
I did not lose weight recently, but stabilized the quick past loss. 
Going to the gym every week. I use mostly the rower (30 min), the abs machine, and the thighs machine. Plus warming up, some lift (3lbs) and shoulder machine; for a one hour session.
I really enjoy doing this machine stuff ! Plus, we walk 10,000 steps twice a week with my colleague, and I learned it burns ~500 cal, which is a lot ! I try to continue eating around ~1400/1500 cal a day, which is sustainable, with drinking more, and lot of tea and herbal teas.
 

The abs machine (I love it)

The rower

When I went last Friday, it was this girl still working the barre with pointe shoes...It reminded me how much I would love to be able to do some ballet again.... Lets lose some weight and be more solid, and I will probably add a new session to my weekly routine.

I never mentioned that I also write a diary and note everything I put in my mouth and do as exercise. It helped me a lot actually to understand the portion sizes and how much more I used to eat (For example, a portion size of chicken or fish is 100 gr, which is half or less than the American portions ! generally 250 gr)