Putting My Mom on a Diet: Week 12 Meal Plan and Weigh-In

Putting My Mom on a Diet: Meal Plan Week 12 #weightloss #motivation  | AndieMitchell.com

If you’re new to the series, I’m putting my mom on a diet (because she asked me to, and I’ve lost 135 pounds myself (naturally). So here’s what you need to know: Part 1, here is the plan I designed for her, and here are her weekly updates: week 1week 2week 3week 4week 5week 6week 7week 8week 9week 10week 11week 12week 13week 14week 15week 16week 17week 18week 191 month eating on her own1 year later

 

Monday

Breakfast: 1 cup Cascadian Farm Honey Nut O’s (110) + 1 banana (100) + 1 cup 1% milk (110) = 320

Snack: KIND Bar (190)

reuben sandwichphoto source

Out to a late lunch/ early dinner at Zaftig’s: Reuben sandwich with french fries (1500)

Dessert: Skinny Cow Ice Cream Sandwich (150)

Total: 2160

….

 

Tuesday

Breakfast: 1 cup Cascadian Farm Honey Nut O’s (110) + 1 banana (100) + 1 cup 1% milk (110) = 320

Lunch: 1 Joseph’s Flax, Oat Bran, and Whole Wheat Lavash Bread (100) + 3 ounces Dietz & Watson homestyle turkey breast (90) + 1 ounce Hoffman’s sliced cheddar cheese (110) + 2 teaspoons yellow mustard (10) + lettuce and tomato (15) = 325 + 1 medium peach (70) = 395

Snack: 12 almonds (80) + 1 ounce raisins (100) = 180

bunless cheeseburger

Dinner: Dinner: Bunless cheeseburger (4 ounces 93% lean ground beef (40 calories per ounce=160) + ½ ounce cheddar cheese (50) =210) + Strawberry Pecan Salad (150) + 1 ½ cups Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower (120) = 480

*Andie note: Recipes for the salad and cauliflower in this post.

Dessert: Edy’s Outshine Fruit Bar (70)

Total: 1445

….

 

Wednesday

Breakfast: 1 cup Cascadian Farm Honey Nut O’s (110) + 1 banana (100) + 1 cup 1% milk (110) = 320

Lunch: 1 Joseph’s Flax, Oat Bran, and Whole Wheat Lavash Bread (100) + 3 ounces Dietz & Watson homestyle turkey breast (90) + 1 ounce Hoffman’s sliced cheddar cheese (110) + 2 teaspoons yellow mustard (10) + lettuce and tomato (15) = 325 + 1 medium peach (70) = 395

Snack: Muscle Milk Snack Bar in Vanilla Toffee Crunch (190)

*Andie note: Mom bought a bunch of these bars herself. What I dislike about them is this: Mom got them because she thought they were soooo healthy. “They’re protein bars!” she told me. But, based upon the lengthy and, well, unnatural ingredient list, I wouldn’t necessarily crown them with a health halo. I don’t even have anything against unnatural ingredients, if that’s your thing (I eat processed food, too!). I have a problem with the reasoning behind Mom buying them. If Mom came to me and said, “Look, I tried these bars. I just LOVE them and I want to eat them.” I’d give her my blessing. But that’s not what’s happening. What’s happening is that Mom is buying them thinking they’ll be “better” for her than the candy bars she really craves. And what I need her to know is: that is not quite true of these bars. I’m not entirely convinced that Mom would be worse off for eating a Snickers.

sauteed chicken and sweet potato

Dinner:  4 ounces chicken breast (120), cut into 1-1/2″ pieces and sauteed in 2 teaspoons olive oil with salt, pepper, and garlic (60) + 1 medium baked sweet potato (6 ounces cooked = 150) + 1 cup steamed spinach (used the same pan that I cooked the chicken in, added a bit of water, brought it to a simmer, then added fresh spinach and stirred until wilted = 60) = 390

Dessert: Skinny Cow Ice Cream Sandwich (150)

Total: 1445

….

 

Thursday

Breakfast: Ezekiel Sprouted Grain Cinnamon Raisin English Muffin (160) + 1 tablespoon Teddie all-natural peanut butter (100) + 1 banana (100) = 360

Lunch: Chef Salad
vegetable base (3 large handfuls mixed greens, ½ cup chopped bell pepper, ½ cup chopped cucumber, ½ cup shredded carrot, 6-8 cherry tomatoes=50 calories) + 2 ounces roasted turkey breast deli meat (2 thick slices or 3 thin slices =60 calories) + 1 ounce smoked ham deli meat (1 thick slice =~30 cals) + 1 ounce sliced cheddar cheese (2 thin slices =100) + 2 tablespoons Ken’s Light Honey Mustard Dressing  (80) = 320

Snack 1: Muscle Milk Snack Bar in Vanilla Toffee Crunch (190)

Snack 2: Skinny Cow Ice Cream Sandwich (150)

steak and cheese

Dinner: Sauteed steak, cheese, and caramelized onions: 4 ounces leftover sirloin steak, thinly sliced (240) + 1/2 cup caramelized onions (60) + 1 ounce provolone cheese (100) = 400
+ 1 cup green peas (120) = 520

Dessert: Skinny Cow Salted Caramel Pretzel Frozen Candy Bar (160)

Total: 1700

….

 

Friday

Breakfast: 1 1/2 cups Cascadian Farm Honey Nut O’s (155) + 1/2 cup 1% milk (55) = 210

Out to lunch: 4 ounce bunless cheeseburger (240 for the beef alone + 100 for 1 ounce of cheese = 340) + 2 tablespoons ketchup (40) + “about 10 French fries” (200) = 580

pork tenderloin

Dinner: 4 ounces roasted pork tenderloin (pan seared in olive oil on all sides, seasoned well with salt, pepper, and rosemary, then sprinkled generously with grated Parmesan cheese and roasted at 400 degrees F for about 25 minutes until a thermometer inserted into the center of the loin registered 145 degrees F = 200) + 1 slice multigrain bakery bread (120) + 2 teaspoons butter (60) + 1 1/2 cups steamed broccoli (75) = 455

Dessert: Skinny Cow Salted Caramel Pretzel Frozen Candy Bar (160)

Total: 1405

….

 

Saturday

Breakfast: 2 Muscle Milk Snack Bars in Vanilla Toffee Crunch (190 x 2 = 380)

*Andie note: Mom said she grabbed a bar for the road, and ate it on her way to work, but then, when she got there, her friend had surprised her with another one as a sort of gift. Mom said “It was such a nice thing for her to do, and I would have felt bad not eating it. Even though I didn’t want it, I ate it anyway.”

Lunch: 2 slices from a small (12-inch) Silano pizza from Bertucci’s (400) + small side salad Italian dressing (100) + 1 roll (150) = 650

pot roast

Dinner: 4 ounces slow-cooked pot roast (320) + 2/3 cup Near East Long Grain & Wild Rice (~130) + 1 cup roasted carrots (100) = 550

*Andie note: Dinner was in a plastic container because Mom got home late and had to reheat dinner.

Dessert: Skinny Cow Ice Cream Sandwich (150)

Total: 1730

….

 

Sunday

Breakfast: 2 cups Cascadian Farm Honey Nut O’s (220) + 3/4 cup 1% milk (85) = 305

Lunch: Muscle Milk Snack Bars in Vanilla Toffee Crunch (190) + 1 serving Quaker Popped caramel corn mini rice cakes (110) = 300

Out to dinner at my aunt’s house: 6 ounces grilled sirloin steak (360), 1 cup rice pilaf (210), 1/2 cup steamed green beans (50), Caesar salad (100) = 720

Dessert: Brownie with whipped cream (350)

Total: 1675

 

Week 12 Weigh-In:

Starting Weight: 210

Week 1 Weight: 201.4 (down 8.6)

Week 2 Weight: 199.4 (down 2.0)

Week 3 Weight: 199 (down 0.4)

Week 4 Weight: 196 (down 3)

Week 5 Weight: 194.4 (down 1.6)

Week 6 Weight: 193 (down 1.4)

Week 7 Weight: 192 (down 1)

Week 8 Weight: 188.8 (down 3.2)

Week 9 Weight: 187.6 (down 1.2)

Week 10 Weight: 186.4 (down 1.2)

Week 11 Weight: 186.4 (same)

Week 12 Weight: 186 (down .4)

Total Pounds Lost: 24 pounds

 

Mom’s thoughts on progress so far:

“Hi everybody,

I am holding my head low right now, as I have only lost 1/2 pound in the past 2 weeks.  I would love to tell you that I worked really hard at eating well and exercising and I can’t believe that I didn’t lose weight, but that would not be true.  I did eat fairly well and I did have a few (well maybe many) good things that I love this week.  I kind of got a little lazy with the diet and took the “what the heck” approach.  My pants seemed to fit well, I am wearing jewelry again (my neck is not as big as it was, so I can fit my chokers again) and figured, hey, what’s a few treats?  Well, I can tell you that those few treats added up, and honestly, Andrea did not put them in my lunch bag to begin with (first hint that I shouldn’t have had them).  I had Bertucci’s pizza and yes I had their famous roll with some butter on it (it was toasted and it did need something on top).  I had chocolate rugelach. I needed to celebrate with my Jewish friends and had the best ever Bubka bread (thank you Shelley!).  Shelley is so generous that she gave me two of these Bubka breads and they really were to die for.  Tonight, I even had a brownie with an oversized dollup of whipped cream. The list goes on and on and on.  Right now I feel sick, can’t go to the bathroom, and my stomach is swollen.  I think I might deserve the aches. This week I intend to make amends with myself and smarten up with my eating choices.  I had all the treats I could possibly want and now I would like to get back with the program and a smaller size for the upcoming holidays.  To do that, I stocked up at the supermarket.  Raisins, walnuts, Joseph’s lavash bread, vegetables, and some apples.  I will do this! And I will move more, and with that said I guess I will work a five day work week again.  Sorry to let myself and everyone else down, but I chumped out and thought I could let loose a little.  Andrea is on damage control and will do her best to patrol my lunch bag.   Thanks again for hanging in there with me and my insatiable appetite!

Yours,

Maryellen (one step away from disaster) Loiacono”

*Andie note: Mom, not one single person on this blog is let down. I think I speak for all of us when I say that we love when other people are real, and honest, and, most importantly, just like us. That said, you still did really well this week! Half a pound is nothing to sneeze at! I know you had a lot of unplanned treats (some of which I don’t even know about)–that’s normal. Some weeks we’re just hungrier. Last week I was sure I had a hollow leg. But part of what I see in you this week is likely due to the natural fatigue that comes with losing weight. You’ve been in the game for a while; maybe you’re getting a little worn out. I’m happy you took some time to eat the things you love, and to maybe relax a bit about eating. This, too, is just life. In the long run, maybe this week refreshed and re-energized you more than if you had just slogged right through. In this way, you might have achieved a non-scale victory in addition to your half pound lost: renewed motivation.

 

CLICK HERE for a printable version of this week’s meal plan!

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39 thoughts on “Putting My Mom on a Diet: Week 12 Meal Plan and Weigh-In

  1. Julie

    I love reading about your mom’s progress. Both of you inspire me. I lost 38 lbs. by eating better and exercising. Then family drama hit me. Being the emotional eater that I am, I gained it all back. Time for me to get back on track.

    Side note – I just discovered the Skinny Cow Salted Caramel Pretzel Bar – it is soooo good!

    Reply
  2. Heather

    Maryellen! I don’t usually comment on stuff here but I need to add my voice to Andie’s to say NOBODY feels let down or disappointed in you. Eating as healthily as you have been recently takes a LOT of effort – sometimes you just want to stop thinking about it and eat “normally,” which for you means the way you’ve been eating for years and years – that’s a hard habit to break! You’re human, you had foods you loved, and you were honest about them. In my eyes, those are all positives. Don’t let this get you down.

    Reply
  3. sarah

    I don’t usually comment either, but totally agree that you’re doing great! I don’t feel let down and I’m sure no one else does. I’ve found these posts really helpful and inspiring. Weight loss is hard and I know the feeling of loosing well over several weeks then just needing a little rest. Often what I end up doing is having a week off and gaining a few pounds. So this week of having a few extra treats and loosing weight is great as a bit of a rest. It is It is nice to know the reality of someone else’s weight loss. Thanks!

    Reply
  4. Dani

    I am TOTALLY with Andie on this. You are not a disappointment in the least! Sometimes you need to take a step back to keep going forward, to help you realize that’s the direction you want to go. Treats are just that – treats, not setbacks! And the best part is that your body is starting to get used to all good food and give you signals (upset stomach) when you put food in that isn’t so great. For me, knowing how eating something will make me feel is a huge motivator.

    Reply
  5. Nancy A.

    I think you did great. too!! We all have weeks that real like happens and life is too short to not have a fun time with your family and friends! You are doing so great and I am glad to see your progress. It is an interesting journey and we are all glad to be along with you. Your daughter is fantastic, we all need a helper like her! Keep on going and doing so well!!!

    Reply
  6. Renee

    Wow, besides your awesomeness at losing 24 pounds so far, I just want to say that as a family you’ve really inspired me! I adore reading your comments, watching the communication between you and your daughter, and seeing the progress that comes from it. As someone trying to lose weight, I am thankful for your honestly. As a daughter, I am inspired to find a way to connect with my own mother on this level. Cheers to you! You’re doing an amazing job!
    Best Wishes,
    Renee

    Reply
  7. Liz @ The Shrinking Owl

    Maryellen, what are you apologizing for???? You have to live your life, and part of your life involves eating food that you like, even if it’s not super healthy. Do it slow, enjoy the things you love, and get back to it the next day.

    Reply
  8. Jeannine

    You are not a let down. I actually enjoy to see you eat as a human!!! Like I’ve said I look forward to the weekly updates. I love both of your sweet personalities.

    My one question, do you find that cereal keeps you full enough until lunch? I have a hard time with that one, as well as maybe toast & peanut butter keeping me full.

    I like to have a variety, but I feel I stay full enough on a couple of eggs and some trader joe’s sprouted toast.

    Reply
  9. Stephanie Rose

    Weight loss is such a life change and it is SO hard to change all that right away. I think you are being SUPER smart about it and taking it in steps! NEVER feel guilty about eating what you love and never feel like you have to take a HUGE dive into this enormous thing you are so brave for doing! You have a whole lot of people who are going through the same thing (I am 25 pounds down myself and trying to maintain) and we can all use each other as inspiration and support! Sounds like you also have an amazing daughter by your side, who is in her own right an inspiration, and will keep you on track when you feel lost. This is all normal and we just have to keep on keeping on.

    Reply
  10. Stephanie Hanson

    Maryellen – weight loss is a challenging journey and I have dealt with beating myself up before. I think the reason we feel sick after we indulge is because our body gets normalized to us putting yummy and healthy stuff in our bodies and then reacts when we go over the top. I have experienced that myself and it’s not fun at all. But the point I am trying to make is you can’t be perfect all the time. It’s not sustainable and really no way to live. Sometimes you just have to let your hair down and eat cake daily…right? I too struggle with not seeing the scale go down sometimes and get sad…but you have lost 24 pounds – that is a HUGE accomplishment and one you should be proud of.

    One other thing – I too bought Luna bars thinking they were a “healthy” snack, but my husband’s boss (who is getting her PHD in nutrition) suggested we try Lara bars. They are SO MUCH BETTER and have zero artificial ingredients. My favorite flavors are key lime pie, coconut cream pie, chocolate cherry torte and cherry pie. I would highly recommend you try these if you are looking for a snack that is grabbable when you don’t have time to put something together. I am sure Andie would like the ingredients list on these :-) Keep up the good work!

    Reply
  11. Beth

    Maryellen, I think this is a huge victory! You ate what you wanted and still lost half a pound after already losing 20+ pounds rapidly. I think that rate of weight loss is nothing to get upset about even if you hadn’t splurged. Compared to your previous eating habits, you have still improved immensely. Weight loss (and maintenance) is a long, hard process so whatever changes you make can’t leave you feeling deprived all of the time.

    Reply
  12. T.

    I think you conducted a scientific experiment last week and determined that:
    1. You actually feel better physically and emotionally when you eat the healthier foods. The sweets promised happiness but didn’t deliver, and that’s a great thing to have learned.
    2. Eating the healthy food actually does work. Sometimes I think we need to prove it to ourselves that yes, that is really the best route to follow. So now you know!
    Also, I have an idea for you. When I have lost weight in the past (after each baby) I’d set a new goal after I reached one so that I didn’t become complacent. So now that you’ve achieved 20 pounds, what will you do to reward yourself once you hit 40? How much better will you feel, what new clothes can you wear, what new style could you try? Then go for that new goal with the tenacity and intensity you did the first one.
    We are all cheering for you and so much applaud your honesty because we’ve all been there. You can do it! :)

    Reply
  13. Jilly

    I think the battle with weight loss is kicking the negative voice to the curb! That negative voice can hold us back from the success, joy, and love we deserve! Maryellen, I see a person who is doing their best…sometimes eating a bowl of grapes for a snack and sometimes indulging a bit. Life is so meant to be enjoyed. Listen to your amazing daughter (guessing she got a lot of that from you!) and be gentle with yourself…give yourself a little love talk and see how your body responds! A big hug to you both for sharing your story of inspiration with us!

    Reply
  14. Janet

    I’ve done exactly what she’s done. Nothing like getting a little sick on junk food to get back on track. That’s my experience.

    Reply
  15. Shannon

    Maryellen and Andie,
    I read this and last week’s post with tears in my eyes. I feel you in wanting to eat/not wanting to eat. Shoving yummy goodness down your throat/eating properly proportioned food. Feeling “good” that you ate “well” and “refrained” from going “overboard”. Feeling like a “loser”when you eat “too much”. One of my reactions was based on an overeating class I took approx 15 years ago- they gave us all ONE raisin then the lady yapped on and on about enjoying food and not just shoveling it in while your husband was in the bathroom at the commercial break. She talked about putting your dessert on beautiful china and sipping your favorite “cheating” beverage out of crystal goblets…she then let us eat that ONE raisin. It was good! I did appreciate it like I never appreciated a raisin before…that’s when I thought my problem was eating and food…I have now learned that I used eating and throwing up (AKA bulimia) as a way of control! My life was out of control- always was! I realized this (mostly) through AlAnon…my mom was an alcoholic…she died from the disease last month. I have not thrown up in over three years, but one morning a few weeks ago, I did it!- called my husband and “confessed”, knew what was going on…and I moved passed it! Knowing bulimia didn’t own me! I will and have dealt with drama/stress/trauma better. I now know why I reached for food to comfort me (or actually the act of getting rid of the food- a “I AM IN CONTROL”) HA! look who’s yapping on and on now-sorry! Just to say how VERY much I agree with Andie and the 100’s of others who have posted and who say “be gentle on yourself” and “we are inspired and NOT let down by you” and “we are praying for you!” not just that you lose weight in pounds that you can see on the scale…but that you lose the weight you’ve been carrying around that says you’re not worth it and that you’re bad and please lose that negative self talk! Ok…all done with my rant now – Sheesh! We’re all cheering for you! Can’t wait to read all about your progress!!

    Reply
  16. Becky W.

    Maryellen and Andie,
    I have been following your journey with great interest and I had to comment on this post. Maryellen, please do not feel like you let anyone down, least of all yourself. You can’t go back and change last week, and I totally agree with and appreciate Andie’s comments that it might have been a good thing for you. I’ve been on my own weight loss journey and I’m down 48.8 pounds since last Feb. I hit a big milestone last fall when I was finally able to fit back into misses sizes again after being in women’s (or plus) sizes for too many years. Instead of just relaxing for a week, I took the whole winter off and gained 10 pounds back! This summer I got back on track with portion control and walking and I am now down another size.
    Andie, your blog has always been an inspiration to me and Maryellen, now YOU are an inspiration to me! Keep up the great work and keep it real – it means so much to the rest of us “normal” people!
    ~Becky

    Reply
  17. jennyinarizona

    I just have to say, even on your “off” week or whatever you want to call it, you still ate better than I do on a normal basis. And this coming from a lifetime WW member (who, ahem, is about 35 pounds over my goal weight at this time). You should see my bad weeks! You’re doing great Maryellen! Keep your head held high!

    Reply
  18. Silvia

    Maryellen, sounds like an awesome week. No guilt. Take it as the “diet vacation” (without it being a disaster) that allows you to go back to more mindful, regulated eating. It’s life, it’s what Andie keeps telling us, food is there to be enjoyed.

    I went through something similar (last week’s comments) and I’m back on track (and have no doubt there will be a “diet break” again). My pants still feel fine (as does my stomach when I get up–usually I felt so big and bloated…I go by my ‘stomach-in-the-morning’ feeling and you know what? It works).

    I’m glad you enjoyed all that yummy food!

    I have to thank YOU: your progress, your journey, your honesty about everything helps keep ME going and sane.

    Reply
  19. Ashley

    Thank you Andy.
    I found your site by accident the other day and I think it might be what I needed to turn myself around. I’m 5’8 and 222lbs. I’ve been trying to lose weight for about a year now. I’ve tried juicing, weight watchers, and the gym, but every time I lose any weight I gain it all back.. I can tell I’m getting stronger every time I go to the gym because I am lifting more weight and am able to exercise for longer periods of time, but I still look like an over stuffed sausage in my workout clothes (and everything else). It’s been really discouraging. My husband and I have been talking about having a child and I am so afraid that my weight may put myself and my future child at risk. . . and, on a more shallow note, that I’ll be so fat that people won’t even notice that I am pregnant when it happens (I’ve been asked twice if I was pregnant within the last two years because of my weight-let’s just say that was one of the most humiliating days ever..). I’ve been really focused on looking better and until recently, feeling better hadn’t really occurred to me. Thanks stories like yours and the encouragement of my husband I finally think that I’m starting to put myself into the right mindset. I want to be healthy, I want to feel good, and I want to be happy with myself. Reading your mom’s weight loss story (and your own) has been really inspirational and has helped me not give up. I went to the gym today and had a salad for lunch and tomorrow I’m going to get up off my ass and do it again. I want to lose 80lbs and I am going to work for it! Thank you for showing me that it is possible and that those little accomplishments will pay off if I just stick with it. You have no idea what kind of hope you have given me. Thank you.

    Reply
  20. Ksenija @ Health Ninja

    Maryellen, you are so amazing and you do great! Having more snacky weeks and treating yourself once in a while is all right. You see that it doesn’t cause you any weight gain and your cravings were satisfied – now it will be way easier to go on with your new healthy eating habits and lose a bit more. I am sure you will make it! It’s not a race, right ;)

    And Andie, I would love to read a post about your love recently. Your mom and her weight loss story is great, nevertheless I miss the Andie stories a bit.

    Reply
  21. Janet

    Maryellen, keep it up. You can do this! Listen to Andie, she’s so smart :-) You will be fine when she goes to NYC! And what a fun place to visit. Every weekend might be a bit much . . . ;)

    Reply
  22. Lynn

    Maryellen, your experience makes absolute scientific, physical sense! Just take your time moving forward so that your weight loss is permanent. Good luck.

    “Scientific evidence supports losing no more than 10% of your body weight at a time. It turns out that the body’s set point and its many regulatory hormones dictate the effectiveness of the 10% loss. That’s the amount of weight you can lose before your body starts to fight back. Many clinical studies have confirmed this phenomenon. Of course, some people can lose more than 10% at a time, but precious few can then maintain that loss.

    After you maintain your new, lower weight for 6 months, you can repeat the cycle and reset your set point again by losing another 10%. Through small, gradual changes in your daily habits, you’ll be able to stay at that new, lower weight for the rest of your life. This prescription is vital to outsmarting the body’s natural tendencies to regain weight.”

    Reply
  23. Cate

    Andie,

    I love your blog & it is always a motivation to me! I am also currently in weight loss mode, and using a tracking system has been incredibly helpful to me (I use & like Sparkpeople, but there are many others out there) & keeps me honest with myself. Maybe using a tracking system throughout the day would be helpful to your Mom? Sometimes I find that typing in the food and seeing the calories helps me make a better choice. I also find the message boards on Spark very helpful & supportive. Maryellen – you’ve worked hard & had great success! But you’re SO hard on yourself! You’re making much healthier choices than when you started. Finding ways to fit in foods we enjoy, that might not be the healthiest, into our overall calorie allotment is a part of a healthy lifestyle. You’re doing great!

    Reply
  24. April

    Hi Andie & Maryellen – you guys are amazing. After my stepdad landed in the hospital this week (he took a fall, but is having some heart problems and is diabetic and quite heavy as well), I posted this series on both his and my mom’s facebook page. They need to make changes but they are both stubborn and don’t like anything too fancy or too weird. I think this plan would be perfect for them and I am really hoping they will do it. I volunteered to help and do it with them for moral support (easy since I make your recipes all the time anyway). Thank you so much for taking the time to spell it all out for us! You are both an inspiration to me.

    Reply
  25. Dina

    Wow, I am so surprised at how good these meals actually look. I guess people forget that changing your diet doesn’t mean you are going to have boring and dull food. As long as the diet is balanced right? Just got my mother started on a training program, going to show her this blog.

    Reply
  26. Erica

    Maryellen,

    I’ve been a reader of Andie’s for quite some time and I want you to know that not one person out here is disappointed with you. Not one of us. We’ve all been there, we know the struggle where you miss being able to pick up a snack without second guessing each bite. The most important thing is to be kind to yourself. You have made amazing progress and you should be incredibly proud of yourself. If you slip up, it’s not the end of the world. Take a breath, enjoy every bite and appreciate it for the happiness that it gave you. Then when you come to your next snack or meal, you’ll be ready to make a choice that will help you get closer to your goals. I hope this made sense, sometimes I start to ramble ;) I just wanted to let you know that you’ve got another person standing behind you, rooting for you and celebrating with you each step of the way!

    xoxo- Erica

    Reply
  27. Donna

    Disappointed . . . not a chance. Maryellen, you are my hero! If you didn’t venture off of your diet, you would never have the opportunity to realize just how much better you feel with healthy food choices. It seems as we grow older, eating healthy becomes the very best medicine. I’m working on eating more slowly (I’m always starved and eat way too quickly) and only eating until I am about 80% full. Challenges everywhere I go. So glad I have your friendship and support to help me along the way.

    Andie, Your food plans and recipes continue to feed my family. We’ve made lots of progress just by giving up eating out and keeping our meals simple and healthy the Andie way. Send more recipes if you can share – can’t wait for that cookbook of yours! Slow cooked pot roast and Broccoli cheese fritatta are on my wish list.

    Reply
  28. Jodi

    Sometimes life happens and we have to cheat a bit. But what matters is wanting to get back on the wagon and trying your best. I think that’s better than being overly strict and rigid, and being miserable as a result.

    Reply
  29. Leslie

    I love reading this blog. It is so great to see just how real and down to earth it is. When I talk about losing weight, people tend to be like you got to count every calorie and not go so called off at all. I have struggled with my weight my entire life, and I made up my mind that this time was going to be different. Being different meant not saying no to going out with friends, enjoying holidays, and living my life. I have put my life on hold too many times to try and get healthy. At that same time, I also have realized how much time I spent on supposed diets, really just cheating the system and more importantly myself. I would calorie count junk food all day long. So I am really trying to change my entire lifestyle. I have a long way to go, but I am making progress.

    Reply
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  32. Christine D

    I’ve been losing weight since Feb. Working out at the gym 6 days a week, going to weight watchers, tracking everything that went in my mouth….about 3 weeks before we left on vacation, I burned out. Just couldn’t do it anymore. I still tried to eat healthy but once vacation came, i ate everything and anything and drank like a fish. I knew there would be consequences but I just needed to stop analyzing everything for a little while. As of yesterday (we got back Sunday), I’m back on track, did my food shopping, hit the gym and started tracking again. I feel renewed! I know I won’t be happy with what the scale says on Thursday but that’s ok. I guess what I’m taking a long time to say is don’t beat yourself up!!! Every morning is a new day. I think you’ve done an excellent job so far! Christine

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