According to Amanda

Week 6/7 Online Weightloss Journal

amanda@accordingtoamanda.com (Amanda) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:58:00 GMT

Well last wekk you'll notice I didn't bother to update my weightloss journal. My monthly visitor showed up last Monday and when weighing in my weight was 220lbs. How you wonder? Well simple, hormones. As I wrote earlier my hormones play a big part of my lifestyle changes and the reason behind me trying to get my health in order. Over the last week I have watched my weight go up and down with no changes to my diet or exercise regime by atleast 5lbs either way. The good thing was for the first time in almost a year I had a normal period. It was a few days late but only lasted 5 days, with minimal cramping and a normal flow. That shows me that I am definitely on the right track. And that makes me happier than fast weightloss.

Today I am happy to annouce that I am 210lbs. Thats a total of 14lbs lost and that's awesome in my book!

Starting Weight

224lbs

Height - 5'7"

Chest - 42"

Waist - 42"

Hips - 53"

BMI - 35.8

Goal Weight - 150lbs

Weight Week 7 End 210lbs (-14lbs)
Height - 5'7" Chest - 38"
Waist - 39"
Hips - 49"
BMI - 32.89
Goal Weight - 150lbs

Week 5 Online Weight Loss Journal

amanda@accordingtoamanda.com (Amanda) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 14:54:00 GMT

This week went really well. I actually weighed in on Sunday at 210lbs but yesterday weighed in at 212lbs and holding. Not that I gained 2 lbs in 2 days but instead my monthly visitor is due to show on Friday and as a woman we know that you hould totally avoid weighing yourself the week of your period. =)

Last week I also started taking some supplements. These include Vitamin B Complex, L-Carnitine, Vitamin A & Hormone Essentials. Plus I have been drinking Biggest Loser Whey Protein and Fiber in the morning. The Whey Protein I drink after each workout also to help build and recover my muscles much quicker than they would normally. And believe me, it works. My muscles feel much less sore than when I don't use the protein supplements.

Here's my stats for this week. I'll write more about my past week after I post this.

Starting Weight 224lbs
Height - 5'7" Chest - 42"
Waist - 42"
Hips - 53"
BMI - 35.8
Goal Weight - 150lbs

Weight Week 5 End 212lbs (-12lbs)
Height - 5'7" Chest - 38"
Waist - 39"
Hips - 49"
BMI - 33.2
Goal Weight - 150lbs

Week 4 Weight Loss Journal

amanda@accordingtoamanda.com (Amanda) — Wed, 27 May 2009 16:14:00 GMT

Well I can't say this isn't hard. This is Week four of my online weight loss journal and I was really hoping to be down further in weight than what I am. This past weekend was my worst so far. Although I stuck to my food requirements I totally flaked out on the exercise Sunday and Monday. Nothing, not even housework. So when I weighed in today at 214lbs I wasn't overly surprised to be down only 2lbs and a total weight loss of 10lbs in 4 weeks.

My goal this week will be to amp up my workouts. Because I realize my metabolism is slowed due to my hormonal issues I need to compensate for that. I'll try to keep a workout schedule written down so that next week I can share that and my end week results.

I hope everyone else out there is doing well on their own lifestyle changes need to get healthy and STAY healthy! =)

Starting Weight 224lbs
Height - 5'7" Chest - 42"
Waist - 42"
Hips - 53"
BMI - 35.8
Goal Weight - 150lbs

Weight Week 4 End 214lbs (-10lbs)
Height - 5'7" Chest - 38"
Waist - 40"
Hips - 50"
BMI - 33.5
Goal Weight - 150lbs

Week 3

amanda@accordingtoamanda.com (Amanda) — Wed, 20 May 2009 12:31:00 GMT

Well I have made it through week 3! No large weight losses yet but they say slow and steady wins the race. Not that weight loss is a race. I've incorporated my daily activities into spending time with my daughters this week. Taking them out for walks & biking and hoping that my drive to get healthy and in shape really impacts how much girls look at staying healthy themselves.

Websites to check out this week:

www.FitDay.com - Track your weightloss progress!
www.EatBetterAmerica.com - Find your favorirte food recipes, healthified! =)
Crunch-Free Abs - 10 Exercises to Better Abs

Starting Weight 224lbs
Height - 5'7" Chest - 42"
Waist - 42"
Hips - 53"
BMI - 35.8
Goal Weight - 150lbs

Weight Week 3 End 216lbs (-8lbs)
Height - 5'7" Chest - 38"
Waist - 40"
Hips - 50.5"
BMI - 33.83
Goal Weight - 150lbs

Progress Report

amanda@accordingtoamanda.com (Amanda) — Thu, 14 May 2009 14:36:00 GMT

Maybe because I was completely ready to make the lifestyle change needed I have really been able to stick to the foods and drinks needed to keep me healthy over the last couple weeks. Currently I am sitting at 216lbs and feeling absolutely wonderful!

My energy levels have shot through the roof. Although around 7pm-8pm I start to get really tired. I fight the sleepiness though and at that point in the evening I tend to relax on the couch and find something to watch on the boob tube till around 10pm-11pm. My sleep has greatly improved. I haven't had swollen feet in about a week and in the mornings I find I wake up easier and my face is no longer swollen when I get up.

Every morning I have a cup of Green Tea, a 4oz glass of V8 Fusion juice and a 3/4 cup to 1 cup bowl of Total cereal with 1/2 cup of fat free milk. Lunch is normally a large salad with spinach added, 2 tbsp of my favorite low fat dressing and a 4oz piece of fish. Or I use the fish to make a sandwich on my multi grain sandwich rounds and a small salad. Also, I am drinking about 64oz of water a day with my meals and in between. I picked up some lightly salted almonds to curb my midday and evening snacking plus to help with though "salt" cravings that turn many of us onto a bag of chips. And if your anything like me, a bag of chips has no servings it means the WHOLE bag of chips. So I avoid the things that could potentially sabotage me. And honestly, at this point I have had no cravings for anything outside of what I am eating.

Originally I was making my meals and my families meals at the same time but I found I "taste tested" their food more and wanted my food less. So I make sure to have my meal eaten by the time I start supper for the rest of the family. Now don't think they get fat filled unhealthy meals, they don't. I am more slowly making their meals healthier then the sudden change I made to mine. For instance, I have replaced all regular pasta with multi grain pastas, regular rice with brown rice. I no longer buy ground beef unless it is 97/3 ground sirloin and I buy ground turkey breast. We have more salads with our meals than ever before and I am constantly looking for ways to cut fat out of all their favorite foods without compromising taste. Cause food isn't food unless it tastes good.

If you have any questions about my diet please feel free to email me. Keep checking back I will begin posting some healthy recipes that I use and use with my kids and hubby.

Thank you to everyone for your support. It has really helped!

Amanda =)

Week 2

amanda@accordingtoamanda.com (Amanda) — Mon, 11 May 2009 11:10:00 GMT

For the past week I have stuck to my daily regime of healthy eating and mainly cardio workouts. I've also successfully cut all coffee & alcohol out of my diet, replacing my morning cup of coffee with a cup of green tea and about 2 more green tea's through out the day plus lots of water. I expected my energy levels to drop but they never did. Instead I am starting to feel more and more energized and motivated everyday. in fact yesterday as I was picking out an outfit to wear out to dinner and a movie for Mother's Day I started thinking, 5 more lost and I can start wearing that pair of jeans again, 15 more pounds and I'll be into that dress and the more I looked through my closet the more I begin to smile and realize I'm on my way! I'm now at 219lbs!! It's the first time I've been under 220lbs in about 8 months and I am EXCITED! I'll be posting a picture either later this evening or tomorrow. Then I'll start posting a new picture one a month till I reach my final goal. So here's my stats!

Starting Weight 224lbs
Height - 5'7" Chest - 42"
Waist - 42"
Hips - 53"
BMI - 35.8
Goal Weight - 150lbs

Weight Week 1 End 219lbs (-5lbs)
Height - 5'7" Chest - 40"
Waist - 40.5"
Hips - 50.5"
BMI - 34.3
Goal Weight - 150lbs

How The Swine Flu Got Started

amanda@accordingtoamanda.com (Amanda) — Tue, 05 May 2009 19:10:00 GMT

This might explain how the "Swine Flu" started . . . . .

Special thanks to Brenda for this mid-day chuckle! =)

Amanda

Health Stats After Week 1

amanda@accordingtoamanda.com (Amanda) — Tue, 05 May 2009 17:42:00 GMT

Well clearly my body is off to a slow start! But what the hell, I'm 2 lbs less than I was just a week ago and somehow lost about an inch all over. Gonna really pump up the cardio this week. The body has to kick in eventually, even with my hormonal problems. Healthy eating + active living will eventually kick this body of mine into gear.

I just finished reading Bob Harper's book "Are You Ready?" and HELL YA I AM! I am ready to make this a life change this time. Not just for me but for my kids and my hubby. They deserve to be tortured by me for many many years to come! LOL

Starting Weight 224lbs
Height - 5'7" Chest - 42"
Waist - 42"
Hips - 53"
BMI - 35
Goal Weight - 150lbs

Weight Week 1 End 222lbs (-2lbs)
Height - 5'7" Chest - 41"
Waist - 41"
Hips - 52"
BMI - 35
Goal Weight - 150lbs

Weekend 1 - Week 1

amanda@accordingtoamanda.com (Amanda) — Tue, 05 May 2009 11:57:00 GMT

Saturday & Sunday - Day 6/7 - Week 1

My original plan was to take my weekends for myself but my hubby has made sure that that isn't going to happen. I stick to the good food choices, or I try. Because my hubby is off on the weekends he's dragging me out biking. Saying he is going to do his part in helping me get in shape and what better way to show his support then get out there with me. I love him! =)

Here are a few of the website's I have found or have been recommended to me and you may find helpful.

FitDay.com

Body Fat Calculator

CalorieKing.com

I really became motivated to finally take charge of my life not only because of my health but watching The Biggest Loser this season has also played a huge role in getting me off the couch and out of the house and completely changing the food I put in my body. Jillian and Bob have done some really great things with these contestants and although both trainers push their people, Bob Harper is my favorite! I joined his website at MyTrainerBob.com and his facebook page where he adds daily and weekend challenges and just seems to really care about the health and well being of people in general. **Hugs to Bob**

Day 5 - Week 1

amanda@accordingtoamanda.com (Amanda) — Tue, 05 May 2009 11:45:00 GMT

Friday Day 5 - Week 1

Here's how I did today.

Food Name	Amount	Unit	Cals	Fat (g)	Carbs (g)	Prot (g)	Delete
		Total	1,070	20.4	179.0	54.2
Banana, raw	1	small (6" to 6-7/8" long)	90	0.3	23.1	1.1
Boca Burger	1	serving	120	5.0	6.0	14.0
Mustard	1	teaspoon	3	0.2	0.3	0.2
Cucumber pickles, dill, reduced salt	2	slice	1	0.0	0.3	0.0
Lettuce, raw	1	small leaf	1	0.0	0.1	0.0
Spinach, raw	10	leaf	23	0.4	3.6	2.9
Multi Grain Rounds	1	serving	100	1.0	22.0	4.0
Onions, mature, raw	1	thin slice	4	0.0	0.8	0.1
Lettuce, raw	4	cup, shredded or chopped	31	0.3	6.5	2.0
Spinach, raw	1	cup	7	0.1	1.1	0.9
Cabbage, red, raw	0.2	cup, shredded	4	0.0	1.0	0.2
Carrots, raw	0.25	cup, chopped	13	0.1	3.1	0.3
Salad dressing, ranch dressing, reduced fat	2	tablespoon	66	5.2	4.9	0.3
Pepper, sweet, red, raw	0.25	cup, sliced	6	0.1	1.4	0.2
Apple, raw	1	medium (2-3/4" dia) (approx 3 per lb)	72	0.2	19.1	0.4
Turkey Cheddar Sausage	1	serving	120	6.0	4.0	10.0
Potatoes, red, flesh and skin, baked	1	potato medium (2-1/4" to 3-1/4" dia.)	154	0.3	33.9	4.0
Milk, nonfat, fluid, protein fortified, with added vitamin A...	12	oz	139	0.9	18.9	13.5
Apple juice	1	cup	117	0.3	29.0	0.1
		Total	1,070	20.4	179.0	54.2

	Grams	Calories	%-Cals
Calories		1,070
Fat	20.4	181	17	%
Saturated	4.9	43	4	%
Polyunsaturated	4.2	37	3	%
Monounsaturated	3.6	32	3	%
Carbohydrate	179.0	687	64	%
Dietary Fiber	27.3
Protein	54.2	209	19	%
Alcohol	0.0	0	0	%

Exercise : 3 mile walk

Day 4 - Week 1

amanda@accordingtoamanda.com (Amanda) — Mon, 04 May 2009 15:55:00 GMT

Thursday Day 4 - Week 1

Today didn't go so well as far as my food choose's want. I skipped lunch while I was cleaning the house and doing laundry. Just didn't think about it I guess. I used to always skip breakfast except on weekends when I'd make my hubby and me toasted egg sandwiches with bacon, lettuce mayo, onions, tomatoes and cheese. I no longer eat them. However I could as long as I thought healthy and used multigrain or whole wheat toast, 2 egg whites, tomato, lettuce, onion and simply leave out the cheese and mayo. For extra flavor a good alternative would be 1 tbsp of low fat cottage cheese on the toast. Plus you could add spinach to the egg whites. Mmmmm, I might just try that this week some time.

Ok so here's how I did today.

Food Name	Amount	Unit	Cals	Fat (g)	Carbs (g)	Prot (g)	Delete
		Total	1,122	32.2	51.2	46.3
Bread, multigrain, toasted	2	thin slice	114	1.7	21.2	4.6
Peanut butter	0.25	tablespoon	24	2.0	0.8	1.0
Pork chop, fried	8	oz, with bone, cooked (yield after bone removed)	425	28.1	0.0	40.1
Alcoholic beverage, distilled, vodka, 80 proof	7	fl oz	450	0.0	0.0	0.0
Apple, raw	2	small (2-1/2" dia) (approx 4 per lb)	110	0.4	29.3	0.6
		Total	1,122	32.2	51.2	46.3

	Grams	Calories	%-Cals
Calories		1,122
Fat	32.2	289	26	%
Saturated	11.2	100	9	%
Polyunsaturated	4.3	38	3	%
Monounsaturated	13.8	124	11	%
Carbohydrate	51.2	193	17	%
Dietary Fiber	8.1
Protein	46.3	195	17	%
Alcohol	65.0	450	40	%

Exercise : 1 hour 10 minutes Tredmill lvl 4

Day 3 - Week 1

amanda@accordingtoamanda.com (Amanda) — Sun, 03 May 2009 14:51:00 GMT

Wednesday is Day 3 of Week 1.

Instead of breaking my food down into meals, it is much easier for me and takes a lot less time to just copy and paste my info from www.FitDay.com where I keep track of my daily foods. It's a great place to keep track of your daily totals and to mark your progress.

Ok so here's how I did today.

Food Name	Amount	Unit	Cals	Fat (g)	Carbs (g)	Prot (g)	Delete
		Total	1,123	19.4	92.4	139.7
Total	1	cup	133	0.7	30.9	2.7
Milk, nonfat, fluid, with added nonfat milk solids and vitam...	0.5	cup	45	0.3	6.1	4.4
Fish, cooked	3	oz, boneless, cooked	95	1.0	0.0	19.8
Bread, multigrain	2	thin slice	115	1.7	21.3	4.6
Tomatoes, raw	1	thin/small slice	3	0.0	0.6	0.1
Onions, mature, raw	1	thin slice	4	0.0	0.8	0.1
Chicken, breast, skin not eaten	12	oz, boneless, cooked, skinless	550	11.9	0.0	103.4
Beans, string, green, cooked, from canned	20	beans	55	3.5	5.5	1.5
Potatoes, red, flesh and skin, baked	1	potato small (1-3/4" to 2-1/2" dia.)	123	0.2	27.0	3.2
		Total	1,123	19.4	92.4	139.7

	Grams	Calories	%-Cals
Calories		1,123
Fat	19.4	174	15	%
Saturated	5.0	45	4	%
Polyunsaturated	4.8	43	4	%
Monounsaturated	6.8	61	5	%
Carbohydrate	92.4	364	32	%
Dietary Fiber	12.2
Protein	139.7	589	52	%
Alcohol	0.0	0	0	%

Exercise : 30 minutes on Stationary Bike
35 minutes on Tredmill at lvl 4

Day 2 - Week 1

amanda@accordingtoamanda.com (Amanda) — Fri, 01 May 2009 13:35:00 GMT

Tuesday was Day 2 - Week 1

Here's how my day went.

Breakfast : 1 Cup of Total Whole Grain Cereal with 1/2 cup of Fat Free Milk
                     Calories = 165                    0.5g Fat
                     Sodium = 10% DV              Carbs = 10% DV
                     Protein = 6g                         Dietary Fiber = 4g - 11% DV
                     *** There is also almost a full days worth of vitamins and minerals in Total Cereal.

Mid Morning : Had no Snack

Lunch : One 4oz fillet of Mahi Mahi fish = 96 Calories - 1g Fat - 16g Protein
               2 cups salad mix with 2 cups of fresh spinach = 27 Calories - 0g Fat - 2g Dietary Fiber - plus more
               1 tbsp Low Fat Ranch dressing = 40 Calories - 3.5g Fat - plus more
               1/2 Cup Low Fat Cottage Cheese = 80 Calories - 1g Fat - 13g Protein
               *** Total Meal = 243 Calories - 5.5g Fat
               If you were still hungry after this meal, simply add more salad to the meal or finish it off with you favorite fresh fruit.

Mid Afternoon : 1 Small 6" Banana
                       1/2 Cup Low Fat Cottage Cheese
                       1 Cup Fat Free Milk
                       *** Total Snack = 260 Calories - 1.3g Fat

Supper : Mahi Mahi Fish Sandwich
                        One 4oz Mahi Mahi Fish Fillet = 96 Calories - 1g Fat - 16g Protein
                        MultiGrain Sandwich Thin Round = 100 Calories - 1g Fat - 5g Dietary Fiber - 4g Protein - plus more
                        1tsp Mustard - 0 everything
                        1tsp Dill Relish - 0 everything
                        1 slice tomato
                        1 slice red onion
                        6 lg spinach leaves
                        1 large leaf lettuce
                4 Cups salad mix with 1 cup of raw spinach = 38 Calories - 0g Fat - 4g Dietary Fiber - plus more
                1 tbsp Low Fat Ranch Dressing = 40 Calories - 3.5g Fat - plus more
                *** Total Meal = 274 Calories - 5.5g Fat

Evening - 2 double vodka & sprite zero = 256 Calories - 0g Fat

DAILY TOTALS = 1288 Calories - 13.1g Fat - 70.2g Protein - Plus much more including more than 100% of my daily vitamins & minerals. I also left a little room in case I had wanted an evening snack such as fresh fruit or a small evening salad.

Todays Exercise - 1 Hour on stationary bike.
                                       20 minutes Yoga
                                       35 minutes on Tredmill @ lvl 4
                                       30 minutes Upper body on gym circuit

Day 1 - Week 1

amanda@accordingtoamanda.com (Amanda) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:07:00 GMT

Monday was Day 1 of week 1.

Most Nutritional information is based off a 2000 calorie/day diet. I am targeting 1000 - 1400 Calories/day. I fry all my meats with cooking spray or EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) on occasion and I use no salt. Instead I use Mrs. Dash Garlic & Herb Seasoning Blend. The Mrs. Dash tastes really good on fish.

Here's how my day went.

Breakfast : 1 Cup of Total Whole Grain Cereal with 1/2 cup of Fat Free Milk
                     Calories = 165                    0.5g Fat
                     Sodium = 10% DV              Carbs = 10% DV
                     Protein = 6g                         Dietary Fiber = 4g - 11% DV
                     *** There is also almost a full days worth of vitamins and minerals in Total Cereal.

Mid Morning :1 Small 6" Banana
                        Calories = 90                  0.3g Fat
                        Sodium = 1mg                Carbs = 23g - 8% DV
                        Protein = 1.1g                 Dietary Fiber = 2.6g 11% DV
                        Calcium = 5.1mg           Potassium = 361.6mg

Lunch : One 4oz fillet of Mahi Mahi fish = 96 Calories - 1g Fat - 16g Protein
               2 cups salad mix with 2 cups of fresh spinach = 27 Calories - 0g Fat - 2g Dietary Fiber - plus more
               1 tbsp Low Fat Ranch dressing = 40 Calories - 3.5g Fat - plus more
               1/2 Cup Low Fat Cottage Cheese = 80 Calories - 1g Fat - 13g Protein
               *** Total Meal = 243 Calories - 5.5g Fat
               If you were still hungry after this meal, simply add more salad to the meal or finish it off with you favorite fresh fruit.

Mid Afternoon : 1 Small 6" Banana
                       1/2 Cup Low Fat Cottage Cheese
                       1 Cup Fat Free Milk
                       *** Total Snack = 260 Calories - 1.3g Fat

Supper : Mahi Mahi Fish Sandwich
                        One 4oz Mahi Mahi Fish Fillet = 96 Calories - 1g Fat - 16g Protein
                        MultiGrain Sandwich Thin Round = 100 Calories - 1g Fat - 5g Dietary Fiber - 4g Protein - plus more
                        1tsp Mustard - 0 everything
                        1tsp Dill Relish - 0 everything
                        1 slice tomato
                        1 slice red onion
                        6 lg spinach leaves
                        1 large leaf lettuce
                4 Cups salad mix with 1 cup of raw spinach = 38 Calories - 0g Fat - 4g Dietary Fiber - plus more
                1 tbsp Low Fat Ranch Dressing = 40 Calories - 3.5g Fat - plus more
                *** Total Meal = 274 Calories - 5.5g Fat

DAILY TOTALS = 1032 Calories - 13.1g Fat - 70.2g Protein - Plus much more including more than 100% of my daily vitamins & minerals. I also left a little room in case I had wanted an evening snack such as fresh fruit or a small evening salad.

Todays Exercise - 1 Hour on stationary bike.

I also tend to have 2-4 cups of black coffee and approx. 48 fl. oz of water. I would eventually like to cut coffee down to 1 cup of coffee in the morning and switch over to green tea. Updates will come. =)

Mahi Mahi fish is a light, flaky white fish. It is very good as it takes on the flavors it is cooked with with no strong flavor of its own such as salmon or tuna which keep their unique flavors along with the spices or flavors added.

If you have any healthy meal or snack ideas please feel free to email them to me.

Amanda =)

Twitter - Are you kidding me?

amanda@accordingtoamanda.com (Amanda) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 03:22:00 GMT

So a few months ago I joined Twitter.com but never really paid attention to it until recently. I added some of my favorite celebrities just to find out . . . . nothing.

Sure they all Twitter and Tweet but nothing that means anything to me. I mean honestly who cares that P.Diddy has a new video out called Diddy Doo that talks about how much he has and how much people should fear him ... blah blah fucking blah.

Or tonight for instance . . and these are taken from real posts . . mileycyruseating dinner with someone special or PerezHiltonWhat one of YOUR favorite "so-bad-it's-good" jokes? or once again [ iamdiddyTrying out a new drink I just made up called the sumertime!!!! CIROC VODKA and Pinapple juice!!!! Its that simple!!! THE SUMMER TIME!!! Go!!] P.Diddy talking about something completely out of the average persons thought process at this moment in time. I honestly think most Celebs think about Hollywood and forget that there really is a real world out there living real lives.

Seriously! Do I care? Do you care?

Let me know if following the retarded antics of Celebs makes you happier than knowing that they are just as real as we are. please send me your opinions on this.

Ok, nighty night all.

Amanda =)

Starting Weight - Before Picture

amanda@accordingtoamanda.com (Amanda) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 14:05:00 GMT

Before I get started with progress reports, I figured I would post my current stats and pic. Each week I will post new stats and pics and hopefully if all goes well we'll all start to see the positive changes I am hoping for.

Me and my girls New Years Eve 12/31/05 & My Main Page image is me 12/22/05 I was about 155lbs at the time both these pictures were taken. And although I was smaller I was not in very good shape. I never worked out, I never ate healthy. That is what I hope to change this time. Lose the weight by getting my body in shape and eating things that are good for my body, mind and soul.

This is me just yesterday. I had my daughter take a picture of me to show everyone else what I'm starting with **sigh** again. I've been in this spot so often. This will be the last time!!

Starting Weight 224lbs
Height - 5'7" Chest - 42"
Waist - 42"
Hips - 53"
BMI - 35
Goal Weight - 150lbs

I'll be heading to the gym here shortly and I need to pick up a measuring tape so I can take all the measurements above. At that point I'll fill them in.

I'll be posting later today on yesterdays regime.

Amanda =)

READY! - It's Time to Change

amanda@accordingtoamanda.com (Amanda) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:32:00 GMT

Here at accordingtoamanda.com I have spent much of my time sharing with you what it was like being me growing up (I'm sure I'll be sharing more in the future). As you all may realize it wasn't easy but I got through it and grew stronger as a person and in time as a mother because of it. Everyday I focus on moving forward and becoming a stronger, better person. One thing I have never really worked on though was the outer ME.

I've spent so much of my life overcoming the pains of my past and focusing on raising my daughters to be happy and healthy that I have left my own health to suffer. So over the past few months I have come to realize that my excuses need to stop and even though I may have many factors against me, it was time to do something. I'm not expecting it to be easy and as much as I wish it would all happen over night, I realize that it is going to take time, patience, commitment and determination.

A little over two years ago, December 2006 I started suffering with sever headaches that kept me up at night and my breasts started to swell and produce milk. I knew something wasn't quite right as I'd had my tubes clamped in 1999 and well you actually have to be having sex to get pregnant so I knew that the producing milk symptom definitely had to be connected to something else, no doubt hormonal. My doctor sent me for my very first mammogram, my breasts were healthy. I underwent blood work and a pap. The blood work showed my hormones a little out of wack and my pap came back with abnormal cells but that wasn't the kicker nor was it further explored. Then a CAT scan of my brain revealed I had Pituitary Tumor. At the time my doctor told me the tumor was only about 3mm big and nothing to worry about right now and that I should go about once a year to keep an eye on any growth that may or may not occur.

Two years later though I'm pretty sure that it has grown and played a large part in my gaining 50-60 lbs. In fact, 40lbs of the weight gain happened in about a 4 month time in the first winter and the rest has been more gradual since. I've also suffered from increased abdominal pain during my periods, clots the size of softballs, bleeding that causes me to change tampons every 10-15 minutes for about a day and periods that have lasted about a month. For instance, at the moment I have been spotting off and on for the last two weeks since my last period and I have cramps daily. I have no sugar and very little salt in my diet yet I suffer from evening foot/ankle swelling and morning face swelling. It was all this that has finally set in motion my need to get in shape and cut all the unhealthy food out of my diet.

In the last month I have started looking at the Nutritional Value in all the food I eat. I have cut out all red meat, switched regular pasta to whole grain, use ground turkey instead of ground hamburger, whole grain bread instead of white and have a good stock of fish in my freezer. Not to mention I eat more salads and greens than the average rabbit, lol. Last week I bought a gym membership at the local YMCA and since the weather is getting nicer go for walks and bike. I haven't lost anything yet but decided to share the good, the bad and the ugly on here with all of you. After all, what better support group then old friends full of ridicule and complete strangers that might just get motivated to get healthy right along with me. =)

Ok. I'm not exactly sure how I'm going to do this but I figure everyday, I will outline my food & exercise regimen. Eventually I'd like to add video and images to go with my workouts and cooking, we'll see when I can make that happen. I will however add recipes and Nutritional Value of most of what I eat and the meals I prepare for myself and my family. You didn't expect me to go healthy without dragging them along with me?!? lol

I also had one of my daughters take a picture of me today so I can post and each week I will post a new pic and weekly results. I won't be cheating or posting false out comes, that will get me no further ahead. I will however post, the good and bad. If a week goes by and I don't lose an ounce or if I gain, I post it. I can't control how my body will react to the lifestyle change, only time will tell. All I can hope is that I can build a strong support system through my family and here online with all of you. It's time for me to stop using my medical conditions as my crutch. This will not only be a good lesson for me but hopefully I will show my kids that no excuse is good enough to be unhealthy.

Starting tomorrow I will begin with posting my life changes. If I can help even just one other person make that life change along with me then this process will be a success for me. Please feel free to email or comment your recipes, pictures, progress ect and I'll be sure to add you if you like along side my own weekly progress.

Thanks to all who keep reading and welcome to all those who are just joining me.

Amanda =)

We're Back!

amanda@accordingtoamanda.com (Amanda) — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 20:39:00 GMT

WoW! Been a couple weeks with the site down but happy to announce . . . I'M BACK!

With chapter one of my book almost complete and work already started into chapter two, I am hoping that it will be ready for reviews by the end of the summer. Will it get published? Here's to keeping my fingers crossed!

I'll be updating soon!

YAY!

=)

About Me - Part 17

amanda@accordingtoamanda.com (Amanda) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 03:26:00 GMT

February 21, 2009

OK, yeah, it's been a while since I have written in this blog. But tonight I was already crying BEFORE I started writing so I said fuck it, I may as well share to the world why. Attempt to share this huge pain I feel. This huge pain I feel in my heart every single fucking day of my life for the past three years.

Tonight my family and I watched Changling, starring Angelina Jolie (if you have NOT seen this movie, leave my blog now).

Quite honestly I expected her, (Angelina's character's) boy to be found at the end, but I guess thats the positive side of me coming through. I should have known better.

At the end of the movie, my youngest daughter commented, "I can't believe they never found him". I responded, " That's why I have always told you never to trust anyone without me telling you too". As the realization of that comment hit me, I cried and decided to share my thoughts here.

But in the end that advice never helped my family either.

This is a warning to all who have always thought, "Not me, that would never happen in my family".

Most of you have read all I've written of my upbringing, my family, it's never gotten any better. Hell I got married when I was 17, LOL . . . seriously would anyone in a normal family, in this day and age marry someone at that age . . . not likely.

Anyways . . . . . . you should probably understand a bit of the relationship between my father and I before I continue with what I want to finally get off my chest. I wanted, so badly, to explain more the circumstances in the years preceding these events so you had a better understanding of the pain I still, to this very day, hang on to. How hard it is for me to share a hurt that runs so very deep. Not just the relationship between my dad and I but my daughters and I.

Just before I married my first husband Michael, I like many other girls wanted their father to give them away but my father, my real father Roy Edward Gene Daniels told me that I was a disappointment to him and that he wouldn't step foot into any church, not for me, not for anyone. In fact, he said, they'd be lucky to get him into a church even after he was dead.

So in response to my father's declaration of refusal to give me away at my marriage to Michael, I wrote him a five page letter explaining my feelings toward him and of our relationship to that point. It wasn't pretty or candy coated. I was a 17 year old telling my father how I felt about his lack of response to the abuse I'd endured thanks to my stepfather, and all my feelings of abandonment as he chose his wife Linda, over me. Not just at that moment but at every moment from the time he left my mother for her many years before.

My father and I stopped talking for 3 years. Hind sight 20/20 . . . I would never had patched things with my father.

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My husband and I married in March 1991 despite losing a child to miscarriage on Valentines Day. In 1993 I wanted to have a child. We tried but I was told that I had Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Look it up if you don't know what it is. The fertility specialist said in order for me to get pregnant, and for the fertility medication to work properly I would have to lose at least 20lbs of the 240lbs I weighed at the time. I wanted a baby badly so I tried to lose the weight. I believe I got down to about 218lbs when I started the fertility meds. Every morning I had to take my temperature. Before I got up. Before that morning pee, coffee, before anything. After five months of scheduled sex and a regiment, I was about done with trying to get pregnant. I was so sick of having scheduled sex during the sixth months I remember saying if it doesn't happen now I'm done. The night I'm pretty sure I got pregnant I went out with my friends and got drunk. I came home to my husband and had a great night of sex, not worrying about pregnancy, just wanting to feel the pure love that couples feel without all the added pressures of life around them.

A couple weeks later my period never showed. I was finally pregnant.

It would be in my fifth month that I would go for my first ultrasound and find out I was having twins. My stomach turned in a spiral of butterfly turns as the nurse said she wanted to make sure there wasn't a third baby hiding in there. When all was said and done, the excitement that flourished between Michael and I was amazing. We were both so scared but so very excited at the same time. Our love had never felt so strong as it did on that day.

The intense love we felt on that day would soon die off.

I delivered the twins two months early at 5lbs1oz and 5lbs 2/3oz.

Continued March 17, 2009

After the birth of my beautiful girls I spiraled into a deep depression. I hated everyone, even myself. My post baby body was the most discouraging. I weighed in at a whooping 280lbs just before giving birth and settled for the 260lbs I had to go home with. Two weeks later my girls came home. The nurse talked to me about the baby blues but I never expected it to hit me quite the way it did. In fact I didn't even realize I was going through it. All I new is that I was unhappy and angry all the time. It felt like I was all alone in the world. When Michael helped out I didn't want him to, when he didn't help out I felt like he was leaving everything to me. I must have driven him mad.

Looking back I felt like I was doing everything myself and the pressure kept building. Of course I realized later that it was my own fault for continually pushing people away.

Three months after giving birth to the twins I found out I was pregnant again. I cried knowing I could barely handle being a mother to the two I just had let alone adding another to the mix. I had an abortion.

Six months after my twins were born I asked Michael to leave, he's never forgiven me. Could anyone possibly understand that I simply had no love left inside of me. I was a ball of deep dark hatred. It was like I had a black hole in my chest and it consumed so much of me that I couldn't feel anything but hatred, pain and anger. I couldn't even fully enjoy being a new mom. Don't get me wrong, I loved my daughters, I just felt like I was living outside of my life.

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With in the first couple months after the girls were born my father and I started talking again. Linda and I also patched everything up. Linda had never had any of her own children so my daughters became the granddaughters she'd never have naturally.

I'll continue more soon. I wish I could tell the whole story here online about my life but then my book would be pointless. Which should also be finished *fingers crossed* by the end of the summer. =)

Thank you for coming and reading. If you have any comments or opinions please feel free to email me or click below.

Amanda =)

About Me - Part 16

amanda@accordingtoamanda.com (Amanda) — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 16:10:31 GMT

I was looking forward to my sweet 16th birthday. After all, it was an age that songs are written about. It's supposed to be a magical time in a girls life.

Life back at home started off pretty good. My mom and I started to form a relationship of sorts. My stepfather was cordial. Never loving or fatherly but not mean or hateful either. I guess he had decided to let me be for the meantime. Or maybe he had other things on the go.

My parents had a basement apartment in the house and the couple living there, Tristan and Tanya, seemed pretty nice. I didn't see much of Tristan but I hung out with Tanya on occasion. She worked at a retirement home which was located pretty close to the group home, Jubian House, which I had lived in. When she told me how much money she made I knew I needed to get a job there. A couple weeks later I left my job working at Tim Horton's and started working at the retirement home as a cleaner.

It was at this point that I was told by my stepfather that since I was working that I could help out with the bills. So from my part-time income I started paying $100 from each cheque. I barely made that from my bi-weekly pay cheque but I said nothing. I was so desperate to have something normal, that I said nothing.

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You wanna know why I never kept up with this blog? Why I let it go a couple months with nothing to say? It's certainly not because I have nothing to say or that I didn't want to say something. There is SO much more to say. The pain of saying it keeps me away more than anything else.

There is never a moment more than when I am writing this blog that I feel more alone in the world.

I wonder at times, if anyone can feel how I feel. If there is ANYONE out there that can possibly know how painful it is to go through life with almost no one to truly loves you. To say, I have no family . . except that which I choose to form myself.

After trying for so many years to please those around me. My friends, my family, my mother, my father. Everyone. In the end, it got me no where. None of it ever won me over a family. The world wonders why young people, teens,have babies. Maybe its because no one, or they feel, no one loves them the way they so desperately want to be loved. The way a child loves a mother. Unconditionally!

I have loved so many, even taken from myself to make sure others were happy and secure. In the end, the only person that suffered was me and maybe even my own children (my true source of any guilt I have today, all of it my own to carry). Sure maybe they did for a short time but it was me who cried many night alone, even more so in the last couple years.

Was there no one in my family that EVER truly loved me? Even today as I sit here at 35 years old and write this blog?

My phone doesn't ring. My email stays empty. My heart still yearns. Even at 35. I wish I wasn't the one showing my own daughters what a family is suppose to be based off how my family was and still is.

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Once you have children you are NOT you. You are them. You live for them. They are who you teach them to be. You fill them up with all you can, you teach them all you can, you show them all you can, you protect them from all you can . . . in the end you hope they are strong, responsible, successful people that thank you for showing them the way and help guild their children onto the same path you have lead them on.

That path has been lead by me. My twin 14 yr olds and my 10 yr old have no one but me and their stepfather Lars. We have shown my girls what love is. And I have made sure that my girls know, no matter what, I AM THEIR ROCK. I will NEVER leave them. I will love them and be there for them before all.

My daughters will ALWAYS be #1 to me! This they know, no matter what.

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A family or a tradition needs to begin somewhere or with someone. I am the beginnining of this family, the rock that will hold all in place. My daughters will never have to wonder if they can move back home or if their mother will help them . . . that is what I have been placed on this Earth to do. To love those who feel life has left them behind, including my own daughters who have or have had been left behind by their own Fathers and or family.

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I will write more tomorrow. I will try to keep up more with my blog. Please understand, the pain I feel when I write is very real and only becomes more painful the more I remember and write about.

<3

Amanda

Thank you all for listening. =)

According to Amanda

Week 6/7 Online Weightloss Journal

Starting Weight

Weight Week 7 End

Week 5 Online Weight Loss Journal

Starting Weight

Weight Week 5 End

Week 4 Weight Loss Journal

Starting Weight

Weight Week 4 End

Week 3

Starting Weight

Weight Week 3 End

Progress Report

Week 2

Starting Weight

Weight Week 1 End

How The Swine Flu Got Started

This might explain how the "Swine Flu" started . . . . .

Health Stats After Week 1

Starting Weight

Weight Week 1 End

Weekend 1 - Week 1

Day 5 - Week 1

Day 4 - Week 1

Day 3 - Week 1

Day 2 - Week 1

Day 1 - Week 1

Twitter - Are you kidding me?

Starting Weight - Before Picture

Starting Weight

READY! - It's Time to Change

We're Back!

About Me - Part 17

About Me - Part 16