Non Scale Victory – Self Control

The struggle is real. I don't want to entertain the negative thought. But reality is it's hard to resist the temptation of snack food. You want to munch all day long. When you walking past the fridge, you automatically grab a snack. You find it comfortable eating your lunch while watching TV, which leads to more snacking.

Weight Loss Plan
I set a food curfew for myself as part of the weight loss challenge this month. No carbs after 2 pm. Carbs mean breads, pastas, and rice. The idea of restricting carbohydrates after 2pm is one way to encourage weight loss. Carbohydrates can be fattening if you eat too much. But I still allowed myself to consume complex carbs like veggies and fruit, just need to remember portion control.

Non Scale Victory

I am quite satisfied with my personal progress so far. I said "no more food" (simple carbs) after 2pm, but I still have messed up here and there. Only this time, I don't allow myself to slipped too far into it. Our eating habits are on autopilot. When it happened to me - I messed up my diet, I used to take it easy saying "I just blew it out today. I'll start fresh my diet tomorrow." The next day I accidentally took the same route again and I promised myself to start all over again tomorrow. I trapped in this cycle of failure for so long. This time around after a diet slip-up, I determined to pick myself back up and move forward. It's about damage control and I'm not allowing myself to make it worse! I'd have a dialogue with myself, 'are you sure you want to have that a-minute-on-your-lips-forever-on-your-hips treat?' 'Fat lasts longer than flavor, remember?'  I used to argue with myself, 'Just one bite. Just one bite won't hurt. But I try to convince myself that lack of discipline is the key of weight loss failure.

I have also stopped midnight snacking. Go to bed early is one foolproof weight loss solution. Or just drink water. Food cravings could also be a sign of thirst. I am proud of my Non-scale victory so far and hopefully can make this a good week!

Weight Loss Progress

I'm not going to weigh myself this week, not next week. 1 or 2 pound loss doesn't excite me. I don't want that scale discourage me or distract my focus. So I decided my weigh-in day will be the end of the month. Scary!!! The last time I step on a scale, I am a waddling penguin at 80kg! That was how much I weigh during my second pregnancy. It's time to get real about weight loss.

Now you're next: What is your Non-scale Victory this week? As always share in the comments.

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Weight Loss Goals: 5 Things I Want to Do When I Lose Weight

Everybody has goals, aspirations or whatever to get up at certain time. Perhaps you are unable to meet your business goals or fulfill your dream-house fantasy because of obstacles in your cash flow cycle, you always have options like Kabbage, who provide small business loans, to turn to in order to get your funds faster.

But reaching weight loss goals is different, you don't need to spend a lot of money. Even if you spend a lot of money on weight loss program, pills, exercise equipment, or meal replacement nothing works if you don't put effort into it.

I have a goal.

I have a goal that one day I will lose weight and have that dream body.

Nothing tastes as good as losing weight feels. Imagine pulling off a body hugging dress without holding your breath. Imagine slipping confidently, easily, and joyfully into those skinny jeans without struggling. Imagine bending over comfortably to tie your shoes. Imagine climbing two flights of stairs but never feel short of breath. Imagine stepping on the scale and read it by just looking down, straight down. And that you know your children are not embarrassed about the way you look.

Sticking together through thick and thin: A weight loss buddy can provide companionship, and positive encouragement and help you stick to your weight loss goals.

I share my hopes and dreams with my weight loss buddy. I wrote these 30 day letters to inspire her. She, on the other hand is my great aid to motivation, someone that makes me accountable for my weight loss goals.

We know that we are not deemed to be FAT forever. 

Dreams and goals can really inspire you. We imagine our dream body. We imagine what it would feel like to experience the dreams we want to have.

Here are 5 things we want to do when we lose weight.

1. Fit into smaller clothes

Ajinmend: I will dig into my old clothes. Finally fitting into those small clothes. Yay!

Honeybee: Very cool! I think my old clothes kinda outdated. I will go shopping for clothes online and the best thing about this is have to worry not about the dress sizes anymore.

2. I want to do a photoshoot

Ajinmend: I want to celebrate this victory by taking wedding anniversary photoshoot. Imagine wearing that princessy dress and show off your tiny waistline.

Honeybee: And flat stomach.

Ajinmend: And nobody will ever asking you if you're pregnant when you're not.

Honeybee: Awkward, right. We get asked that question big time. As for me, I want to take a decent family photoshoot and pose freely. I mean I will never need to hide behind my kids anymore to hide my embarrassing body shape. Non scale victory!

3. Talk back to your critic

Ajinmend: For those who dared to say "you never lose weight" this is the sweetest revenge. I will proudly flaunt my new body makeover.

Honeybee: Make them regret. Imagine you meet someone you haven't seen for ages. Imagine the stunned look on her face when she sees your "new image."

4. Show-off "Before" and "After" Picture on media social

Think yourself thin with the FaceinHole app: Had been overweight for years, we can't even remember 
us being at our ideal weight. 

Honeybee: I used to post other people before-and-after-weight-loss picture on my Instagram. Now it's my turn.

Ajinmend: You want fame. Gah!

Honeybee: Hell, no!! Haha...I am not focusing on personal glory. I simply want to inspire people. Inspiring others isn't easy. But we all have the ability to inspire people. I want someone to look at me and say 'because of you, I didn't give up.' Inspiration is one of the greatest gifts we can give anyone. When you inspire others, you give them hope. We give them life.

Ajinmend: Absolutely. I want to do the same thing. Success should be celebrated, not condemned.

5. Expanding family

Ajinmend: I have been putting my life on hold because of my weight. I would like to get pregnant and expand our family but I can't until I lose some weight.
Honeybee: Oh, that's also one of my bucket list item of things I want to do when I lose weight. We want a healthy pregnancy, right? Getting pregnant when you are obese or overweight increase your chances of miscarriage, birth defects, and pregnancy complications. We don't want to take this risks.
Ajinmend: But sometimes people just can't understand why you want to lose weight if you plan to get pregnant. People mindset was like you will gain weight during pregnancy. So why going through all the hardships to lose weight. People was like... you can lose weight after you have a baby. But I want to be at my healthy weight for my next pregnancy. I want to stay fit and strong.

It's your turn now:

What's on your bucket list? What things you want to do when you lose weight or when you reach your goal weight?

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Weight Loss Failure: You Are 100% Responsible for Your Own Success

This post dedicated to myself, to my diet buddy, and to all who have failed to stick to their New Year's weight loss resolution.

Don't complain about the results you didn't get from the work you didn't do. The following is an interesting excerpt from Jack Canfiled's book: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be.

You will never become successful as long as you continue to blame someone or something else for your lack of success.

You are the one who ate the junk food.

You are the one who didn't say no.

You are the one who took the job.
You are the one who abandoned your dream.

Mr. Canfield says, people only complain about things they can do something about. People don't complain things they have no power over. If it weren't for gravity, people wouldn't fall down the stairs and planes wouldn't fall out of the sky. But we never heard anyone complain about gravity. Why? Because we know we can't do anything to change it so we just accept it.

The circumstances people always complain about are a situation they can change by their very nature.

You could learn to cook healthier food.

You could say no in the face of peer pressure. 

You could quit and find a better job. 

You could go back to school and pursue your dream. 

But why people don't simply do those things? It's because the require to change involving risk. The risk of being ridiculed or judge by others, the risk of being unemployed. It might be uncomfortable and confusing. It might take money, time, and effort. So they stay put and complain about those things to avoid the risk. But avoiding risks also means losing out on the potential gain that accepting the risk may have allowed.

To create the life you always wanted is simple: stop complaining and take that risk. But simple doesn't necessarily mean easy. It requires concentrated awareness, dedicated discipline, and willingness to take risk.

Let's do some exercise, ask ourselves:

1. How am I allowing this to happen? What am I doing that is working and that I need to be doing more of?

(should I control carbs intake, add more cardio exercise, etc)

2. What am i doing that is not working? What do I need to be doing less of?

(am I spending too much time on social media, eating too much sugar, etc)

3. What am I not doing that I need to try on to see if it works?

(get more sleep, drink more water, hire a coach, etc.)  

I don't have "losing weight" in my New Year resolution this year. I am not hitting my goal weight last year. I think the more I use the word "diet", the more I'll eat. So I try to skip the word "diet" in my dictionary and focus on healthy lifestyle instead. Fast forward to 5 months, I'm still not losing any weight. Ranting about why I'm still not losing weight totally useless and won't change anything. I am done with making further weight loss analysis. It's just a matter of being ready and willing to take the risk. Buddy, it's NEVER too late to pick yourself up, start all over, and keep going. Whatever your weight goals, or career goals, relationship goals might be... it is never too late to be what you might have been. 

Are you afraid of taking risk? What are your biggest fears? 

Share in the comments.

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Letter to Myself #2: Feeling So Guilty About Food? Don't Beat Yourself Up!

Do you ever feel stressed out after ate something that wasn't on the weight loss plan you're following?

I used to and still dealing with guilt after eating. After give in to cravings, I will feel horrible that I will say, "Oh well, I blew my diet. I will carry on eating junk and the heck with it." Do you really need to worry? Feeling sorry for yourself and being frustrated with your own behavior is not going to take it back. It just steals your joy.

SEE previous letter: Letter to Myself: How to Pick Yourself After a Setbacks

How to stop beating yourself up if you go off track?

1. Chill out

According to experts, one meal is not going to show up on the scale overnight if you eat sensibly and exercise regularly the rest of the time. Moderation is always the key. Have what you want for ONE meal - not pigging out every single day.

2. Be gentle to yourself

When you start to feel bad because you fell off the wagon, didn't exercise, or ate fried food, stop it by thinking about things that makes you happy. A good book, your upcoming vacations, or maybe a pretty landscape. Self-criticism makes you sick. It effects your self esteem, fills you with stress hormones, and will causes you to sabotage your own best efforts.

3. Create a healthy relationship with food

Food is neither good or bad. Foods give your body energy to carry out the complex functions it was designed to do. You have more power over food. Not the food. You're the one who make decision over food, cakes, coffee, and soda. You must be on guard against eating for pleasure. With determination, anyone can fix bad eating habits. So skip the guilt! What you eat does not define you as a person.

4. Be realistic

No one eats perfectly all the time. You are giving yourself permission to do this, and as soon as it’s over, you should go back to the eating plan you normally follow. This is not a license to overeat and binge.

5. Make the right choice 

Indulgence is not a crime. It is only a one-time affair. But you need to do something about it when it has becomes a constant indulgence. You know which foods make you feel tired, bloated or sluggish and which foods make you feel satisfied and give you energy.

Dear myself, you demand respect and encouragement from people you know. You deserve it. Demand it from yourself.

It's your turn...
What do you do when your weight loss plan are not going as planned?

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DiGi WWWOW Awards 2013: Top 50 Blogger of the Year by Nuffnang Category

Remember the #DGWWWOW Awards 2013 I mentioned a few weeks back? Well, the voting is now closed and they have 50 finalist from all categories.

Shortlisting the top 50 entries in each category are based solely on the most number of votes.

Panel of Judges will evaluate these top 50 shortlisted Potential Winners on June 24 to July 5, 2013 and select the BEST ENTRY for the category based on the criteria mentioned as the ultimate winner.

I want to thank all Her Weight Loss Diary readers, friends and family especially to the SITS Girls Community who voted and sent Her Weight Loss Diary to the top 50. I am so honored! 

Thank you.

The competition is really stiff. I know Her Weight Loss Diary is against popular blogs and I don't have high hopes of winning. But being listed on the Top 50 is accomplishment. I can't be thankful enough. These are the top 50 of Blogger of The Year by Nuffnang category.

1. Shneep's Corner - Because normal sheep and snails are a little too mainstream!
2. Akma Omar [dot] com - Lifestyle Blogging, Business, Travel and Opinion Blog
3. Abstrak Hidup - Aku Mahu Kau Denganku, Pastikan Kau Ada Selalu.
4. Denai Hati - Hidupkan Untuk Memberi
5. Miera Maira iz Mumbling Troubling
6. Secret of Shaila - Be what you are. This is the first step towards becoming better than you are.  
7. Tinta Masterjhee - Menulis Apa Yang Dirasa, Mencoret Ikhlas Dari Jiwa
8. www.Pengerindu.com - Bukan Sekadar Weblog Biasa
9. Blog Pakar Cinta
10. First Time In My Life - Sometimes you should be nervous 
11. First Time In My Life - Sometimes you should be nervous
12. Kucing Hitam - Blog Semanja Kucing...Meow!
13. Fatin Imani Official Blog - you will end up spending the rest of your LIFE counting and still never catch up. 
14. HafizRahim - Sharing is caring. 
15. Zamier Zainuddin - A creative man is motivated by desire to achieve not by desire to beat others. 
16. Angel Love Soldier - Let's Talk About Soldier 
17. Earncent.com - Lelaki kacak, Cendol Banting dan Ain Maisarah.
18. In Piscean's Heart - I could be sloppy, I could be sexy, I could be friendly, I could be fiery!
19. kroleZONE - Sharing all the things in my head.
20. JIAKREATIFELT - EDITING BLOG,CRAFTING FELT
21. ErickJB Days - friendships, romance, love, passion, lovers, desire, life & reality.. 
22. The Story Began Here - Sharing is caring
23. Catatan Perjalanan
24. Syazwani Mazlan Official Blog - Lidah akan menentukan siapa anda
25. Sarcasm Puh-leeze - For your daily dose of LOLs & Running Man
26. Dr. Totin Jamain - Biar Kena Maki, Jangan Patients Mati! 
27. Bolehland.net, the webcomic! - The adventures of two guys in Malaysia, in comics!
28. The Heaventears Haven - Love life by Living life to its fullest.
29. Sudden Dimension - Controversial yet making sense, leading a distinct way of living.
30. Irinenadia - Being married at an early age.
31. The One & Only Me ♥ - It's all about me, my family, my friends & FOOD! XD
32. Macikz Konah - Great way for me to express myself, share my feelings and thoughts.
33. Her Weight Loss Diary - One Pound at One Time
34. Kisah Emas Putih - Ingat jadi blogger ni senang ke? Ia tak semudah yang anda fikir.. 
35. This is the miracle of love - I know its hard being a single mother but I'd rather do it by myself!
36. The Precious Gift - I blog to express not to impress.
37. Kauluan Express - Culture is the widening of the mind and of the spirit
38. Aku Penghibur - Jom Senyum Bersama Aku Penghibur
39. Aecha Charmy Tries to blog! - Found me how typical am i!!!
40. Drexar21 - Blog teknologi informasi terkini
41. cheeChingy - Believer in unicorns, and Pikachu chooses me. Imagination flies when I blog.
42. Ceritaku Di Mana-Mana Saja - Blog Semua Dalam Satu
43. Datin Tyka Zorro Malaysia - Cerita dari pengalaman yang pernah dihadapi
44. Miao&WafuPafu Comic Blog - It's Cuteness Overdose! Telling stories with comical blog posts since 2007.
45. ClassyPyt by Sarvin Sidhu - Beauty, Fashion, Latest trends - just a click away!
46. CleverMunkey - A munkey with a tale...
47. Giorgio Izas : Blog & Aku - Life is like a wheel, sometimes we're at a top and sometimes we're under.
48. Everything in Asyik Maiburogu - We Are Shaped and Fashioned by What We Love
49. Silent Confessions - Sometimes, hope, faith and dreams are all you need in life.
50. His Selfish Machine - If you like music, art, photography, musical theater and food, love, you like me.

Can’t wait until the Blogger of the Year by Nuffnang is announced.


UPDATE 06.07.13 : Winner from every category 
1. Blogger of the Year by Nuffnang - Irene Nadia Marcello
2. Shorty Blogger of the Year by ChurpChurp - Typical Malaysian
3. Fave Entertainment Blog by MSN - Kaki Gosip
4. Fave Tech Head by Lowyat.net - Mr.Piratz
5. Online Shop of the Year by Mudah.my - Pestle & Mortar Clothing
6. Top Online Over-Achiever Under 16 by IACT - Ruth Kezia
7. App of the Year by InMobi - Teratoman for Amok
8. Fave Video of the Year by SAYS - Mat Luthfi
9. Photostory of the Year by Yahoo! - Ronan Tan 'The Color of My Heart'.
10. Breakthrough YouTube Star by Google - Amrita Soon
11. Social Media Gathering of the Year by Malaysia Kini - Cyril Dason of Tweet-up Kuching 2012
12. Fave Makan-makan Expert by Nuffnang - Teo Chee Seng of Epic Makan Time
13. Most Inspiring Internet for Good Award by Innity - Refuge For The Refugees
14. People's Choice Award by DiGi/Astro - MyHazman.com
15. Best of the Best by DiGi/Astro - Mat Luthfi

Congratulations to all winners!

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Challenge: Creating Non-Scale Victory

The scale has stopped moving since April. Ahh, have I mentioned about this before? The scale has stopped moving. I'm not losing any weight, not gaining either. I am around that 74 number. BMI = 31, OBESE. How frustrating is that. I feel that I will never lose weight. But it's not the time to give up yet. Let's talk about Non-Scale Victories. Non-Scale Victory is just as important as losing pounds because they speak to the joys of being human.

Waking up early in the morning is a nightmare. If you noticed, I've mentioned several times in my previous post that I tried to rise early. I usually wake up about half an hour before my daughter have to go to school. And it's no fun if every morning is rush and rush. So when I woke up extra early this morning, I count it as my Non-Scale Victory. I got some exercise and found some quiet time — without interruption and live without noise. Getting up early is still a big deal for me but it's a work in progress.

I'd love to report and celebrate my Non-Scale Victory (NSV) every week because NSV helps keep me focused in the right direction, especially when the scale doesn't budge. This post is a link up to KTJ's NSV link up. For next week, instead of thinking what I have accomplished off scale, I think it's a great idea to create a Non-Scale Victory Challenge.

NSV Challenge #1: Go to bed early and wake up early in the morning

Many successful people get up early to exercise. Knowing how to sleep well, wake up early and have the best morning can boost your life quality.

NSV Challenge #2: 10,000 steps every day

Taking 100,000 steps a day without dietary can prevent any weight increase, although it may not cause weight loss on its own, according to studies.

NSV Challenge #3: Eating clean for 7 Days

1. Avoid foods that are highly processed, full of preservatives to keep them fresh on a shelf, or colored with dyes. If you don’t buy it, you will be less likely to eat it.
2. Stop eating at least 2 hours before bed time.
3. No fast food.
4. No sugary drinks. This includes artificial sugars in diet drinks like Crystal Light and Diet Coke.  

Lisa of The Dose of Reality shares her NSV last week, and it's too good not to share here because her victory is utterly uplifting.

What are your Non Scale Victories this week? You've certainly made progress, but it isn't necessarily weight-related. Give yourself credit! I'd love to hear about them, however little!

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My First Blog Award Ever!

My first blog award, the Liebster Award! I am deeply thankful to Dani of That Fitness Chic for nominated me. I feel loved. I would like to apologize for the delay in responding. I was on a one week vacation last week. My second blog award is the DiGi Blog Awards. To be. Oh, let's hope. Show some love and PLEASE VOTE for HER WEIGHT LOSS DIARY.

VOTE Her Weight Loss Diary NOW...

VOTE Her Weight Loss Diary NOW...

I have no idea of the origins of the Liebster Blog Award but here are the 6 RULES (copy and paste from Dani's blog):

1. Acknowledge the blog that nominated you. 
2. Answer the 11 questions the nominating blogger created. 
3. List 11 bloggers with less than 200 followers that you believe deserve some recognition. 
4. Post 11 questions for them to answer 
5. Notify them that they've been nominated. 
6. You can't nominate the blog that nominated you.

11 Questions: 

1. What is your favorite food? (I love food)
I love everything about foods. Ice cream, chocolate, pasta, breads, cakes. All fattening foods are irresistible. (and you say, no wonder you're fat.)

2. Where would you travel if you had unlimited funds?
Around the world. I love to visit new places.

3. Who is your biggest inspiration?
My mom. Mom is the strongest person I ever know.

4. What is your favorite musical group right now?

Micheal Learns To Rock and Boyz 2 Men. I love the 90's.

5. What keeps you motivated?
My kids. I want to set a good example for them.

6. What are you looking forward to most this summer?
Vacation.

7. If you had any super power, what would it be?
Power to see the future.

8. What made you start blogging?
I started 3 years ago, but only seriously into it this year to keep myself accountable with my weight loss goal.

9. What do you admire most about yourself?
My cuteness. I am a narcissist, haha.

10. Do you have a lifer slogan? What is it?
I love "Mark 11:23 Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them." I live by it.

11. How old were you when you stopped believing in Santa Claus?

I never believed in Santa Claus. :)

Her Weight Loss Diary nominate...
1. Lulu & Daisy
2. J-Ziggy
3. You Shut Your Mouth
4. The Diary of a Fat Mom
5. Fitnasty for Life 
6. A Healthy Makeover
7. The Carb Monster
8. Hollie Runs This
9. Honey, I Shrunk the Mom
10. The Fit Train
11. Living Like a 2 Year Old

Her Weight Loss Diary's Questions:

1. Would you say, you are easy going or serious and determined?

2. Are you willing to admit you sing in the shower and if so, what song do you sing most?

3. What do you do when you get nervous? Do you hid? Get loud? Do something to distract yourself? Change the subject?

4. Do you have any interesting habits? If so please list them. (Examples: suck on a finger, twirl hair, roll tongue, double jointed)

5. What is you favorite thing to eat; vegetables, meat, or equal amounts of both?

6. In social situations, you: find it easy to communicate, or are more of a listener than a speaker.

7. Where would you prefer to spend most of your time if you were on holiday: meeting people, or reading and taking lonely walks.

8. A sentence or two describing a happy memory from your childhood.

9. Something that you learned recently.

10. What’s your sign, and do you believe in horoscopes?

11. Do you reply to people who comment on your blog?

Thank you for taking time to read. I'd like to extend an formal invitation to you all to answer the questions and pass it on. I'd like to learn about all of you! Leave a comment with your link so everyone can read it :)

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Letter to Myself: How to Pick Yourself Up After a Setbacks

If you visited my post before this, you'll know we just celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary. I want to thank to everyone for the anniversary wishes!

 

5 months has passed and I have already wasted those 5 months for not losing weight. I feel really bad for not doing well with my weight loss goal. But I think to myself if I just sit and mourn my failure, I am going to waste another 5 months of not losing weight. And my weight loss resolution will carry forward to year 2014. And I will trapped in the cycle forever.

So, today I am recommitting to myself. I am going to pick myself up off the ground, dust myself off and get back on this horse. But it's easier said than done.

Has this ever happened to you? How do you get unstuck, pick yourself up and start all over again?

1. Acknowledge setbacks

Acknowledge your feelings about it but don’t dwell on them. Once you've acknowledged the setback and the associated feelings, accept them as normal, learn from the lesson lurking in the setback, don’t judge yourself, and let the feelings and the setback go.

2. Make a list to reevaluate your expectations

You are depressed simply because you are overwhelmed with all the things you have to do that you haven’t gotten around to doing. Start simply by picking up a piece of paper and a pen, and list down your weight loss affirmation. Simply making a list can help to reflect and re-focus on your expectations. The result just might be more clarity, relaxation and direction.

3. Take action

Start scheduling and develop your workout routine. Use your weight loss affirmation effectively to remind you of your weight loss goal. Once you've got the momentum, you'll feels much better than lying around feeling sorry for yourself.

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts."
― Winston Churchill

4.Stay positive
Rather than focusing on what you did wrong, consider what you did right today. Blog about it. Grab a pen and paper and write down everything that went right in your day. Talk about it to your best friend, family member, or co-worker. And then there’s always online forums to find someone to talk to. Getting things off your chest can be a huge lift. Tomorrow is a chance to start over and do it right.

How do you pick yourself up when faced with setbacks? Thanks for listening.

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We're Celebrating Our 7 Years of Marriage!

I am a hopeless romantic but my husband is not. I remember every important date, like when we first met, when he proposed to me because it has sentimental value. But the hubs? I have to remind him of this. 

Today is our 7th Wedding Anniversary!

I was 55 kg when I walked down the aisle with the man I love 7 years ago. I tried to lose weight back then. I want to be 5 kg lighter so that I look great in my wedding dress. Who won't? But the weight didn't go away. I still got married. 

People said, couples in happy marriage are likely to gain weight. I'm the living proof. Happily married and two kids, I gained a massive 27 kg in 7 years. And as the two wonderful kids growing up, their mother is "growing up" too. The perfect anniversary gift this year would be my 'weight loss' indeed. I have been planning from month 1 this year to shed the kilos for good but I'm not striving hard enough thus things have not been successful until now. There's time when I felt that losing the weight that I have kept for 7 years is impossible. But thanks for sharing this success stories, they keep giving me hopes. 

• Susan successfully lost half her body weight, 
• Nikki lost 130 pounds for good 
• Mandy lost 69 lbs after pregnancy.
• Ashley lost 120 Pounds
• Raycheal lost 36 kg in 6 months

Follow my journey if you haven't!

© I promise not to spam you

Finding weight loss motivation can be difficult. Leave your thought in the comment:

• What comforting advice would you offer to someone who struggle with their weight?   

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PMS Spoiled My Non-Scale Victory

You have seen my report card. Zero result thus far. I had a very bad week. Glad my "friend" visiting me today. And that means it's the end of a bad PMS ever. End of crazy food cravings. End of severe abdominal bloating. End of terrible throbbing headache. End of of worst constipation. And now I'm ready to get back on track.

I don't have Non-Scale Victory this week. PMS spoiled my NSV. If I can called it a Non-Scale Victory, the only thing I managed to maintain is: Not using bottled sauces when cooking. It has been over 2 or 3 months since I last using them. Bottled sauces - tomato sauces, chilies sauces, barbecue sauces, oyster sauces, etc - they are one of the worst hidden sugar culprit. According to Eat This, Not That, half a cup of spaghetti sauce ought to have around 5 grams of sugar. It's just a one small step but not a bad starting point to avoid sugar addiction.

Well all this while, I have this mindset that crazy binging before period is normal and there's nothing you can do but ruin your diet before period every month. But here are 5 tricky steps I learned this month: 

How to Avoid PMS Symptom from Ruining Your Diet:

1. Always stock healthy foods while you're still okay

Thanks Miss Robin of The Mess That is My Life for the head up. Before your period, do some prep work when you're still feeling okay so they're easy to grab when you're not. Try to use slightly healthier options. When you craving for something sweet, maybe you'll eat a fruit roll instead of a candy bar. When you craving for something salty, you'll eat a couple of pickles instead of the bag of potato chips.

2. Clean up diet

Hormonal imbalance causing PMS symptom. Dr Mark Hyman suggested you increase fiber (vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds, beans, and whole grains) in your diet, stop eating refined flour, sugar, and processed foods, cut out caffeine, stop drinking alcohol and eating protein (protein shake, eggs and nut butters) for breakfast to balance your blood sugar.

3. Exercise

Get moving is very important for balancing hormones.

4. Manage stress

Hot bath at night, getting a massage, doing yoga, deep breathing or meditation can also help balance hormones.

5. Supplement

Apart from taking a good daily multivitamin (all the nutrients work together),  Dr Mark Hyman also suggested these Top 10 supplement to eliminate PMS symptom:

1. Magnesium Citrate or glycinate (400 to 600 mg a day) to improve metabolic function,
2. Vitamin B6 (50 to 100 mg a day along with 800 mcg of Folate and 1,000 mcg of Vitamin B-12)
3. Evening Primrose Oil (two 500mg capsules twice a day)
4. Taurine (500 mg a day) to help liver detoxification. 
5. Chasteberry fruit extract ( 100 mg twice a day of a 10:1 extract) (Vitex Agnus-Castus) can help balance the hormones released by the pituitary gland that control your overall hormone function. 
6. Wild yam (Dioscorea villosa) and cramp bark (Viburum opulus) can help regulate cycles and relieve menstrual cramps. 
7. Dandelion Root can help with liver detoxification and works as a diuretic. 
8. Isoflavones from soy, red clover, or kudzu root improve estrogen detoxification by boosting the activity of specific detox enzymes. 
9. Flaxseed contain lignans that help balance hormone metabolism and block the negative effects of excess estrogens. 
10. Probiotics supplement (5 to 10 billion live organism) to replacing healthy bacteria in the gut to helps normalize estrogen and hormone metabolism. 

Hopefully next month and months to come, I'll be more than ready. I marked my calendar and make sure PMS will never ruin my diet and my NSV anymore.

What is your Non-Scale Victory this week?

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Wake Me Up Before May Ends: A Weight Loss Chronology

I need to remind myself of this: next month is June, the first half of the year since I renew my resolution to lose weight at the beginning of the year. I've made zero result so far. I need to push myself harder. I need to refer back to my weight loss SWOT analysis.

A quick recap on my weight loss journey:

• March, 2012 - My water fast very first attempt. Starting off at 72.9kg (158.6 lb).
• June, 2012 - After 15 days of a not-so-successful water fast, I weighed 68 kg.
• July, 2012 - I tried to water fast again at 67.9 kg.
• August, 2012 - 40 days water fast plan only last to six days. Renew my weight loss plan at 66.4 kg.
• December, 2012 - Totally messed up my diet, 20 days before New Year 2013. 
• February, 2013 - Recreate my weight loss plan. Weight recorded: 73 kg.
• March, 2013 - I am 1kg lighter, 71.6 kg.
• April, 2013 - Back to square one. From 71 kg goes up to 73.4 kg, and up to 74.1 kg. 

This is not a weight loss journey. Apologize me for the title. This is more likely a weight gain journey. :( Now, I refuse to weigh myself until I sure a sign of progress in a way of my old clothes fit. Number on scale can left me feeling discouraging and disappointed. I just want to avoid that for the moment. 

If you remember, I made a bet of $25 with my weight loss buddy last April. We must lose at least 3 kg by end of April or the loser will have to pay $25 to the winner. The result, we both were 0-0 draw. Neither one of us lose any weight. It was like we together lost 2 kg (which weight loss is mostly water) and gain it back shortly. Ha ha...Okay, this is a push. I must lose at least 3 kg by 31/05/13. 15 days to go!

Super massive mama: The stomach is sticking out. You can't tell which is the boobs, and which is the stomach. 

Question to ponder: How do you push yourself, create good habits and make your weight loss goals a reality?
If you are constantly on twitter, please give me HoneybeeGB a shout out every time you sign in, or leave me a message on Her Weight Loss Diary Facebook. I hang out a lot there.

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Have You Had Your Non-Scale Victory Moment Yet?

Good bye April. Welcome May.

It was like only yesterday I wrote an opening post for April, and now it's already May. How time flies. Nothing much happened in April.

I got an F for April's report card. F for fail on scale.

My weight keeps fluctuating between 70-74 kg throughout the month. Honestly, that 4 kg variance is solely water weight, and make no difference to the obese me.

Recap from April Strategies:
Goal #1: Exercise at least 10 minutes (the more the better) everyday except Sunday.

End Month Report: So determined and dedicated the first two weeks, but the motivation starts fading pretty quickly as week goes by. I barely workout now.

Goal #2: Avoid foods and drinks with hidden salt, sugar and fat!

End Month Report: Not a complete victory, but I did most of the time.

Goal #3: Create a deficit of 1000 calories per day. The calorie deficit calculator, estimates that I eat 1,200 calorie per day to creates the deficit. 

End Month Report: I tracked my foods with fatsecret.com but always over calorie :(

Goal #4: Stop greasy takeaways, fast food; cut out bread (my favorite), chocolates and ice cream.

End Month Report: I don't remember the last time I took greasy takeaways and chocolate because every time we're eating out, my choice are mostly noodle soup and steamed tofu. Never get bored with that. But carbs like bread and rice which I try to cut out in April are simply irresistible. Have lots of them. And I had ice creams this week.  

Goal #5: Weigh myself once a week, every Monday to track my progress. 

End Month Report: Fluctuating numbers on scale is seriously frustrating me. I stopped weighing myself altogether until I see some improvements in how my clothes fit.

In a positive spirit, I still got a few number of victory to celebrate.

1) Avoiding foods and drinks with hidden salt, sugar and fat!
Not a complete victory, but I did most of the time. And when I go grocery shopping I am no longer fill my trolley with junk foods and instant noodles. 

2) Not leaning on fiber supplement

3)Not treating myself to greasy takeaways, fast food and chocolate. 

This post is link to KTJ Weighing In. Your non-scale victory is not necessarily related to weight loss accomplishment. 

Let's celebrate together, what is your Non-Scale Victory this week?

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Non Scale Victory on a Bad Week

It's been a bad week for me. I gained weight on my diet and it's the worst feeling in the world. Now I'm taking Laurie comment into consideration, and trying to decide what day to weigh in. Monday might not be the best time to weigh-in because I’m most likely go off plan on the weekend. Weighing myself on Wednesday or Friday may gave me time to correct my eating if I'd slightly gone over at the weekend. However weigh-in on Monday morning might motivate me to eat and exercise better on the weekend knowing a weigh-in was in the near future.

What do you say, what is the best day to weigh in?

Though the number on the scale this week drive me mad, I still have a better reason to celebrate. If you read my previous post, you'll know that I'm kind of "addicted" to fiber supplement. Fiber supplements has a number of health benefits, including normalize bowel functions but I use it to 'undo' a splurge.

I certainly feel discourage after realize that I have eaten more than I planned on fun outing last weekend. I don't want to deny that it's really tempting to take another shot of fiber supplement. But I want to be less dependent on this laxative to lose weight. I haven't bought fiber supplement beginning this April, and I didn't either buy one when I tempted so this week. I simply go back to healthy eating. Victory!!!

I hope you guys are having a great week! This post is a link up to KTJ Weighing In.

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