Weight Loss Diary #35: size 4 on me...

Stabilized on 130-132 since early October. Guess I missed half pound to reach my year end goal of breaking 130. Sad.... feeling gulity...

However, in the holiday seasons (eating season for me and my family :P), maybe that's what I'm supposed to be :) At least I tried working out everyday... treadmill or JM DVDs.

And more importantly, today, I comfortably fit in a size 4 skinny jean!!!!!

Looking ahead, new year resolution is to lose the last 10 pounds in year of 2010. Be healthy, be happy!

About Santa...

It is Christmas, the big holiday for kids in the US. Even though it is not our holiday in our culture, kids going to school here and they believe in Santa. One day, my son came home and told me about Santa giving presents on Christmas Eve. I had mixed feeling, not sure if I should just tell him Santa is not real, or even tell him I have no plan to buy him presents. On the other hands, that's the biggest topic in school among all his classmates: What presents you want to get, what you will be gettting and how many, etc etc.... overtime, I realize I just couldn't impose the Chinese culture upon American born kids: we had to earn presents or pocket money by doing well in school or doing good deeds.

Anyway, my kids are nice, they are not terribly naughty ones. So I decided to buy them Christmas gifts. In the last several weeks, I asked them what they like to have IF Santa really gives them presents. So I had some ideas what they like. On Wednesday, I headed out to Target... I still tried to limit "toys" to them, but instead, puchase things that are practically useful or around education, if possible.

On Christmas Eve, my son asked me: how will Santa come into our house?
Me: Must be from the chimney.
Son: Then you will have to turn off the heater and take it away (we put a electrical heater in the fireplace)
Me: Ok (still having my mixed feeling, because I am lying to kids)
In the evening
Me: Ok, you both have to go to bed early so that Santa can come and deliver the presents. I am putting a empty big bag next to the fireplace, tomorrow morning, you might find the bag full of presents.
Son: Oh, mommy, How will Santa know what I want?
Me: Well, why didn't you write a letter to Santa to tell him? Now it is too late, he may just give you whatever he has with him
Son: I want to write a letter now, can you help me?
Okay. Here is what he wrote:
Dear Santa, I want a start wars toy and a bakugan. And Jennifer wants a princess toy. Thank you. Love, Charles and Jennifer

So, for the very first time, at 8:30, they both went up to the bedroom and laying in bed quietly. After 5 minutes, son got up and asked me: mommy, can I go down to tell daddy something? I will be right back. Without surprise, he went to tell daddy to remember turn off the heater so that Santa can come. Just like this, by 9PM, they both sound and asleep.

This morning. Son got up at 7:00AM, first thing he did, of course, telling his sister: I saw a big red bag, come on, wake up, let's unwrap the presents.. Santa gave us all those!!!

First thing he saw was the Star Wars comforter, he was sooooooooo excited, screaming, repeating: Star wars, star wars, star wars..... the joyful moment would be ALL parents like to see and would do everything for it... What poor parents we are....

one by one, they unwrapped everything, when he saw a cube red Bakugan, that was another exciting moment...... Because he is getting a TOY, finally, Jennifer of course also wants one... I gave her the Barbie 2002 Collection Edition, which was one of my collections, that I got from my best friend and have kept for years... Kids are spoiled... just like this...

And, they believe everything in the big red bag were all from Santa.....

Fried Rice

Fried rice is quite simple.

Heat the pan, saute two eggs, add ham, add rice (I always use leftovers), and frozen green pea. Add small amount of water (one teaspoon each time). Grasp the ideal of: Fried to the rice savory but not rotten stick, from a small rice crust. Finally add a little soy sauce for salty taste and nice color(remember the ham was relatively salty)

This year's first snow

Weight Loss Diary #34: Home Gym Grand Openning - Phase II Plan Started

It's been almost 6 months since I started my weight loss journey -- yeah, time flies!

What a experience for the first 6 months. Majority of the weight loss came in first 3 months (May, June, July). From September, it progressed on a snail pace. I guess that's the stabilization/adjustment phrase. Good news is that October and November didn't show obvious weight gain though exercise load was reduced significantly, plus the one week get-away to Las Vegas with tremendous food temptation. And during this period, we now call it phase ONE, I did a lot of research and study on healthy weight loss and nutrition, and I have experimented and validated the theory. All this, gives me a high level of confidency and foundation to start the phase TWO -- carrying out the weight loss plan once more time to lose the last 10 pounds to reach my ideal weight goal -- 120 pounds!

Phase TWO Plan:
1. Period: Now -- 3/31, that's not an agressive plan at all, about 1 pounds every 2 weeks.
2. Workout: Make good use of the new treadmill at home, squeeze at least 1 hour per day.
3. Diet/Nutrition: Continue to be concious about food intake.
4. Research/Study: Finish Jillian Michaels book - Master Your Metabolism
5. Logistic: Resume the daily recording and monitoring of weight in.

All supports from my blog readers and dear friends are highly appreciated. Will keep you all posted on my progress.

Weight Loss Diary #33: Expecting treadmill...

What I have been doing last week or so?

hehehe... tracking where is my new treadmill...
This is the price I pay for for free shipping -- ground transportation for the 200 lbs giant package to be shipped out from Utah! Finally it will be delivered tomorrow afternoon! :)

Anyway, my plan can soon go live. With the treadmill at home, I can do morning walking without going outside in the cold and in the dark; I can do evening exercise as well and anytime during the day without worry about the snow in the Winter. What a super plan :)

Work has been keeping me quite busy and somewhat stressful -- just another release! But I am seeing end of tunnel now, it soon will come to an end and I can have a break. So, breaking 130 is still the year end goal. 5 more weeks to go!

Weight Loss Diary #32: Treadmill...

Finally, ordered the reebok folding treadmill... researched a lot of reviews, this is a decent and high quality one, at least I hope. It says will take 2-3 weeks for delivery...

Also today I cleaned up the vacant bedroom, put away the crib and moved the guest bed to the corner of the room -- This is going to be my gym room :)

Weight Loss Diary #31: Resume weight loss plan

After one week very nice get-away and one week adjustment back to normal schedule, current weight is 132 lbs.

The encouraging facts are that I can now fit in several pre-pregnance pants; the new appearance after losing 20+ lbs is well praised/complemented by friends and colleagues.

However, winter is approaching, that's the biggest challenge. It is certainly harder to keep up on the exercise plan. I may reward myself a treadmill. Still debating....

Another thing I have learnt is to set realistic goal, so for the remaining 7 weeks of year 2009. My goal is to break 130.

Dear friends, please give me your support and wish me achieve my last 2009 weight loss goal. :)

Las Vegas Strip Photos

Hello Las Vegas -- Arriving

After 6 hours long fight, arrived Vegas 9PM local time.

Checked in to Mandalay Bay, got a strip view room at high floor. Very nice.

Becaues of the jet-lag, I woke up 4AM

Pics coming soon...

Casual Dinner