JustOneCupcake's Blog

New Address

Just One Cupcake — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 13:30:59 +0000

Visit me at www.justonecupcake.com

Hi my fellow bloggers and friends!

I just wanted to tell you all that I have a new webpage! You can now visit me at www.justonecupcake.com.

Thanks for reading my posts I hope you enjoyed them. If you did, go visit my new site and let’s keep following this journey to get healthier while losing weight!

Because weight loss is not easy… but it can be fun!

Taco Bell’s Fourth Meal

Just One Cupcake — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 15:00:51 +0000

Fourth Meal...No thanks!

Really, what is this about? I can’t barely handle the three meals and a healthy snack and lose weight, could you imagine if I decided to go for Taco Bell’s Fourth Meal?

In my weight loss journey, I’ve learned that I need to stay away, as much as possible, from fast foods. I still eat from there but I try to do it to a minimum. Eventually my goal is to avoid them completely. I’ve noticed that when I don’t even eat once at a fast food I do much better with my regimen.

When I think about fast food, I think about burgers, fries, onion rings, chicken wings, tacos, etc. And for me the time to eat it is during one of my three meals. Thinking about eating from Taco Bell after hours make my hips grow wider. I even feel heavier.

Lately I’ve seen that people are more conscious on what the eat and on exercises. My question is, why do this fast food companies keep insisting in bringing this kind of alternative? I guess that there is more people who go to the Fourth Meal than the ones that stick to their main three.

I will skip this drive through late at night, because I know I’ll see and feel the effects later. In my case eating late at night, – 11pm and up,- opens a whole new door for me, like what happened to the Gremlins. I know I won’t stop with a simple taco or burger, I’ll eat the whole menu and then some.

If you go out and on your way back home you get hungry, think about your options and make a smart decision. Remember, the effects come later.

Is That’s Your Goal?!

Just One Cupcake — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 14:00:53 +0000

The Wizard of "Goal"

How many times have you heard that? If I had a nickel for every time I heard that in my lifetime I’ll be, well out of debt.

The definition of goal is, the end toward which effort is directed. This doesn’t mean that we can’t change while in the journey.

The number I selected as my goal weight might change on my way there. All depends on how I feel and look at certain weight. That number is the magic number, you know like in the Wizard of Oz. In the movie the characters had to travel the long Yellow Brick Road to get to the Wizard. Once there they got what they were looking for but not in the expected way.

The same happens with my goal weight. That is my “Wizard of Oz” (only with my name), and the journey I’m traveling is my long Yellow Brick Road. I know that in the end I’ll get what I want, lose weight. It might be the number I selected or it might be a little different.

Next time someone asks you “is that your goal?”, say yes very proud and keep working at it. Only you have the power to make it a reality and don’t forget you can modify this number as many times as you like. After all is not written in stone! Enjoy your weight loss journey and make it fun and memorable.

Vacation, What’s the Damage?

Just One Cupcake — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 13:00:02 +0000

Vacations!!

I just came back from my vacations in Puerto Rico. As you might know, I went to celebrate my birthday and to spend time with my family and friends.

In the beginning I was super confident that I was going to be able to manage my Weight Watchers Points with no problem. After all, is all about watching the portions, right? WRONG! Well it is part of it but not all.

It wasn’t until I arrived to the airport and ordered a chicken-mango wrap with fries that I panicked. Although I only ate half of it and almost none of the fries, I was concern about the rest of the trip.

You see, I love food, especially Puerto Rican food, which most of it is FRIED!!! Yes fried! Don’t get me wrong, you can find very healthy food in Puerto Rico but most of my favorites are not healthy!

Half way eating my lunch, I remembered I was going to go to a very Puerto Rican birthday. With music, FOOD, drinks, games, CAKE, dancing… did I mentioned FOOD and CAKE?? To be honest my anxiety levels went from o to 100 in a second and my “hungry gland” was activated the whole time.

After arriving to the party and seeing all the food available, I thought, “OMG, it is only Saturday and I already ate my points for the day and the extra ones… what is going to happen on my birthday?”

At that moment I decided to stop worrying about that and enjoy myself. That I wasn’t going to make others feel uncomfortable with my eating habits. I mean, I wasnt going to throw everything out the window, but I wasn’t going to obsess about it either.

True I stooped counting my points and watching my portions, and I decided to accept whatever result came out of that.

Today I’m happy to report that I didn’t gain any weight. I guess that after all, my body and my mind are more connected than I thought, and this trip didn’t affect my progress. If anything taught me that I should be calm and enjoy myself without obsessing about the food and others.

Awareness, not obsession, is key during your vacations. Enjoy!

Plus Size Bloggers Summer15 (W4)

Just One Cupcake — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 13:31:48 +0000

Fourth week participating of the Plus Size Bloggers Summer15 and I am still having fun!
This week I went back on track, whoohoo!! I improved this week and practice moderation.

Now let me share with you my progress!

Week 4
July 6 (happy birthday to me) to July 12

Starting weight – 214 .2
Week two weight – 211.8 (-2.4 lbs.)
Week three weight – 212.6 (+ .8 lbs.)
Week four weight – 211.2 (-1.4 lbs.)

Now today is my birthday and I’m going to enjoy myself, that doesn’t mean that I’ll throw everything out the window, but what it means is that I will be careful!

See you next week!

Getting Ready for My B’day

Just One Cupcake — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 15:10:52 +0000

During my 32nd birthday celebration!

Soon is going to be my 33rd birthday and because of it I’m traveling to my Country, Puerto Rico, to visit my family and celebrate the only way Puerto Ricans know how to.

I know I’ll be surrounded by people who love me and of course yummy food and cake. Every year I celebrate big, after all this only happens once a year. At the same time I try not to go over board with the food and drink intake. This is my first year, in about 10, that I’m going to Puerto Rico to celebrate and I do hope it becomes a “big” celebration but at the same time I’m so scared that I wouldn’t be able to control myself.

Fortunately, I have a great support system at home and I know that they will make sure I don’t go over board while having fun. Also, my body is starting to recognize when enough is enough. Like I said before, I’m not going to stress about the food that I have around me. I can always enjoy myself and at the same time make smart choices.

I will eat cake, I will eat out with my friends and family, I’ll have a drink, and yes I’m going to celebrate my birthday, but this time I’m going to celebrate in moderation have fun and above all, PLAN in advance what am I going to do! I will have a happy 33rd birthday.

Bring on the cake and the good times!

Shopping in My Closet

Just One Cupcake — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 14:00:20 +0000

There is something super exciting about going to your closet and rediscovering clothes that you forgot about it. This is kind of happening to me. So far I’ve lost around 10 pounds and for me this means that I can start browsing, just a little bit, in my closet and try on the clothes. Also means, that the pants and dresses are let tight.

One of my favorite things to do while losing weight is going through my clothes and rearranging it, “this I can start wearing, this eh, not yet”…

I hate when I gain weight, but at the same time I know that I have something to look forward when this happens, and that is wearing the clothes that is too small to wear at the moment. Finally wearing a pair of jeans that you love with a nice top and high heels, is an amazing feeling that I love having it.

I know I still have a lot to go but I’m looking forward to wear again my two piece bathing suit and the jeans size 8 that I wore about three years ago. And when that happens, I will need to go shopping and get me new sizes and even smaller just to look forward to wear those too.

So here is to my new-old wardrobe, skinny jeans and high heels!! Oh how I missed you all!

Plus Size Bloggers Summer15 (W3)

Just One Cupcake — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 13:41:23 +0000

As you might know I’m participating of the Plus Size Bloggers Summer15. This is the third week. Wow times flies when you are having fun!!

Although this week I didn’t lose any pounds, in fact I gained a little, I don’t feel defeated like the other times. To the contrary it empowered me to do better and be more careful.

So here it goes, the third week weigh-in:

Week 3
June 29 to July 5

Starting weight – 214 .2
Week two weight – 211.8 (-2.4 lbs.)
Week three weight – 212.6 (+ .8 lbs.)

True, it’s not a lot, but it could be discouraging if I let it. But I wont!!

See you next week!

About Sports and Food

Just One Cupcake — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 16:24:58 +0000

"Stadium Food" is the best!

I love sports, I really do.

Basketball, baseball, soccer, tennis, hockey, and the list goes on. I think the best part of it all what I call “Stadium Food”. You know, fries, chicken tenders, sodas, beer, hot dogs, pretzels…

Imagine going to a baseball game in the summer and not eating a hot dog and a very, very cold beer? I can’t. For me baseball = hot dog + beer. When I go to basketball games I always order a beer and chicken tenders with fries or if I don’t feel like eating heavy I’ll order a beer and popcorn.

Even after I started Weight Watchers - the first time when I lost 71 pounds,- I found a way to still eat the “stadium food”. The only thing was that instead of eating the whole portion this time I shared the food with whomever was with me and drank a light beer and lots and lots of water.

This is how I see it. Food is always going to be around. I either deal with it and make it work towards my favor or I fight it. To be honest, I tried fighting it and it didn’t work so now I embraced it. This has been the best thing I could have done.

Now I feel that I have more options and that I am not depriving myself of anything, even though I don’t eat everything. Just the idea that I can still eat the hot dog, the chicken tender, the fries and drink the beer makes me feel safe.

So let’s play ball and bring on the food!

The Power of Music

Just One Cupcake — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 13:59:59 +0000

Run, run, run!

The singer Rob Thomas has this effect on me that every time I hear the song “How Far We’ve Come” or “This is How the Heart Breaks” I feel the need to start to running. It doesn’t matter if I’m at the gym working out or sitting at my desk working I get the same feeling.

You see I’m not a runner and both of those songs just make my brain to send the message “run” to my legs and that I do. The beat of both songs is accelerated and for some reason, even though I get tired during the songs I just can’t stop running until the music is over.

I guess the article I read about the beat of the music and the effects on the body is true. In the January/February 2010 edition of Women’s Health Magazine, I found a little column that stated that the music with a rapid or loud beat send a signal of distress to the brain releasing adrenaline, resulting in more energy.

The same principle applies for when you need to calm down. Playing relaxing music will do the trick or even to calm the kids. I remember a friend of mine she always played a specific song to calm her baby. If by any chance she forgot to put the song in repeat oh wow, the baby will get up and cry non-stop until the song was playing again.

Knowing this, I loaded my iPod with songs to get me excited and to calm me down. Here is a list of some of the artists you could find in my mp3 player:

Rob Thomas
Maroon 5
Rihanna
Ricky Martin
Kelly Clarkson
Wisin y Yandel
Daddy Yankee
Kate Perry
Lady Gaga
Chris Daughtry
ABBA
Among other