Just 40 Days

Mushroom Risotto with spinach and salsa. Ten years ago, when I was losing weight with Mercy Weight Mgt and HMR products, one of my favorite dinners was their Mushroom Risotto. I was so excited when I saw that NutriSystem had included their Mushroom Risotto in the Turbo Start box. Today as my sixth dinner, I cooked a couple of cups of baby spinach, Mushroom Risotto and topped it with Chi Chi's Salsa.  Just like I learned how to like it so many years ago.  It was delicious and more importantly, filling.  The dinner in the photo is less than 300 calories! I'm really starting to feel better and am glad I chose to do this for myself.  I know that a pre-packaged food plan works for me.  The cost will keep me true as I cannot waste this kind of money. Speaking of money, I just found out that Costco sells Nutrisytem gift cards AND they are on sale until tomorrow:  $100 card for $55 (usually $79) I bought some for myself so next month's food order cost will nearly be cut

I've just completed five days of Nutrisystem.  The food is okay.  I really have found any that I just couldn't eat.  I add lots of vegetables to the lunch and dinners.  I learned that ten years ago with Mercy Weight Loss.  More volume helps me to me more satisfied. It's a little after six, and I'm pretty sure I'm going to be hungry.  It's Friday and I usually enjoy happy hour with friends.  So what's my plan?  ---> Drink water when I think I'm hungry.  Eat some more vegetables if I absolutely need something.  Take Aiden for a walk.  It is a beautiful night! I can do this!  Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels.

I am considering replacing my four year old phone and stumbled across this text from my daughter Haylee.  As you know, Haylee died after being struck by the car of  a distracted driver in April of 2014.  I came across a couple of conversations from Haylee and I laughed when I read the one in the photo. This text reminds me of the reason our family, and many of Haylee's friends come together each year as Team Haylee in the Toledo Zoo's  Dart Frog Dash. Just so you know, along with inspiring us to do this, I'm sure Haylee beats us every year!

This picture of me, taken 8 years ago, came up in my facebook newsfeed. I like how I looked then I am confident that I can get there again.  My hair will be a different color, but my body will be the same. I completed day two yesterday.  I ended up pedaling a little at the YMCA and found that I was extra hungry when I got home.  I had already eaten all that I was supposed to on the Turbo Takeoff plan, but had learned years ago to eat when I'm hungry.  So I chose to make a vanilla shake with a banana, tsp. steel cut oats, and cinnamon.  According to the NUMI app, I was still under 1200 calories. 1200 calories is not very much for me.  I usually try to stay around 1500.   As a teen, my mother always said to me "Mary, if you want to weigh 120 pounds you have to eat 1200 calories."  I want to weigh 150 pounds, so once I reach that goal, I will maintain it with 1500 calories.  For now though, I'd better focus on the task at hand, 1200 calories, as I head towards my g

I completed my first day on Nutrisystem yesterday.  I have to admit, I actually felt hungry a couple of times throughout the day but pushed through it and stuck to the plan. I started the day with their blueberry muffin, coffee, and fried a large egg with sliced tomato.  I don't think I'm supposed to be adding a 'powerfuel' during the turbo takeoff week, but have chosen to do so at breakfast.  I eat breakfast at 5:30 a.m. and snack somewhere between 9 & 10 with lunch around noon.  The egg helps me to stay satisfied. Other than the addition of the egg at breakfast, I plan to follow the turbo takeoff plan by eating only the food that came in the special Turbo Start box!  I invested in myself, using funds I would normally have used for vacation or recreation.  Kudos to me for completing day 1.

You may or may not know that I started blogging over 10 years ago when I won a contest called Weigh Into Win.  It was sponsored by our local CBS station,  WTOL , the  YMCA , and  Mercy Weight Mgt.   I had a personal trainer, a food plan, and was a local 'celebrity' as the community watch my progress on TV and read my blog.  I did well on the program, reaching my goal weight of around 150 pounds.  I was 46 at that time and maintained that weight until I turned 50. At 56, I am beginning another serious weight loss journey.  I am fifty pounds overweight.  For whatever reason, I admit it, I have gained fifty pounds and seem to want to maintain that weight.  This morning, I weighed in at a whopping 206.1 pounds.  This morning, I also began a Nutrisystem program.  I chose this program for a couple of reasons. During 2016 I had surgeries on the same foot, each requiring eight weeks of non-weight bearing compliance.  I gained twenty pounds after the first surgery in March.  W