For those of you who have been following Esther’s weight loss journey, she continues to do very well.  19 weeks into her weight loss journey, Esther is down a total of 17 pounds! Her current weight is 131 pounds, down from 148 pounds. And even more importantly, she has lost a lot of inches, especially in the lower abdominal area. Esther said she has had to buy all new pants.  (Pic below is of Esther and Stephanie, a co-worker who attended Esther’s gym on a guest pass)

Esther’s starting              Esther’s current
measurements:                measurements:

May 2008                        Oct 2, 2008
Arm: 12″                                  12 3/4″
Natural waist: 30 1/2 “            29″
Lower abs : 36   ”                     31″
Hips:  42 1/2 “                         39″
Thighs: 25 3/4 ”                      22 1/2″

Conversation with Esther: 
She told me that her major goal is to get under 130 pounds by the end of October. This will mark the end of 6 months of her weight loss journey. We talked about how her weight loss has been slowing down in the past month.  A slow down in weight loss is not unusual as someone gets closer to their goal weight. This happens for 2 reasons: 1. The body is “fighting you” as you try to get to the lower weight because that is not your usual weight   2.  We tend to get a little less strict on our eating plan as more time goes by.  

Esther and I had a “heart to heart” phone session to brainstorm ways to help her meet her goal. We identified two major problem areas that are slowing her progress:

Problem #1:. Socializing with too much food and alcohol continues to be a major problem for her. I’m sure many of us can relate to this.  Business lunches/dinners, events, meeting up with friends … all these occasions revolve around food and / or alcohol.

Proposed solution: Do more planning. Esther and I talked about her upcoming events for the week and planned on which nights she would have alcohol and how much. We also talked about how to handle the food situations at these events. Planning is key! I also do this with my private clients when they come to my office.

Problem #2:  I also noticed on her food records that she has been snacking more after dinner on the nights she is home. Esther reports feeling hungrier now and thinking about food more after dinner as compared to when she first started the eating plan.

Proposed Solution: Make sure she fills up on a lot of veggies at dinner. Keep fewer snacks at home. While Esther is great about buying healthy portion controlled snacks to keep at home, sometimes she has too much of a variety available. Studies have shown the the more choices you have available, the more you will eat. (This is why we overindulge at buffets). Esther sometimes has a little buffet of snacks available at home!  We also talked about her spending more time at night at the new Equinox, which is practically across the street from where she lives (if it ever opens …. the opening has already been delayed!)
(Pic on the right is of a buffet… no - not in Esther’s apartment)

Four days of Esther’s food records:

Thursday September 18, 2008     
Breakfast     
coffee     
4 oz of 4% cottage cheese     
Lunch:     
Amy’s vegetarian lasagna - 300 calories     
Harvest in the Square - EVERYTHING WAS BITE SIZE     OK - I have a mean streak and have to post this day!
crab cake 1/2     
slice of roast duck on sm potato pancake     
1/2 crab cake     
Indian chicken curry w/ rice 1/2
grilled slice of steak w.o bread
1 grilled shrimp w/ gongozola
pumpkin & chiorzo soup
octopus & potato salad   
inside of steak slider   
1/2 pulled pork w/o bun   
2 sm ribs, taste of mac n cheese   
2 pieces kelbasa w/cherry tomato   
1 tiny piece mozarella w/ cherry tomato   
sm piece fluke on lettuce   
tastes of wine total prob 2 glasses   
marshmallow shake 1 1/2   
bite of chocolate cake   
panna cotta w/ berries   

Monday September 15, 2008    
Breakfast    
coffee    
green tea (upset stomach)    
Lunch    
green tea (upset stomach)    
Kashi frozen entrée, chicken w/veg & grains 290 calories    
Dinner    
sm piece grilled salmon    
steamed broccolini w/ 1 tbs olive oil & lemon    
1 tablespoon of dill sauce    
1 cup of steamed brown rice    
15 mini M&M’s    

Thursday September 25,2008   
Breakfast
coffee   
Kashi go lean bfast bar
Lunch   
1 roasted chicken breast   
1/2 pita bread   
mixed salad oil & vinegar   
1/4 cup grilled cauliflower   
Dinner 
Celantano Eggplant Rollatino 350 calories   
sharataki noodles sauteed in 2 tbs olive oil & garlic   
2 pieces string cheese   
1 plum   
1 sm bag pirate booty 130 calories   
100 cal jello pudding   
100 cal oreo   
15 almonds   

Saturday September 27, 2008
Breakfast
banana 
coffee 
lunch 
turkey, w/3 slices turkey bacon 
on lite bread w/ lite mayo 
Dinner out w/ friends
2 glasses Prosecco 
2 glasses red wine 
small plates shared: 
mini meatballs 
pasta w/squid ink (a big forkful)
pasta w/fresh clams (a big forkful)
lasagna (1/3 cup)
zucchini flower stuffed 
octopus w/potato salad 
1/2 roll w/ olive oil & salt dip  
1 crostini w/codfish, olives, mushrooms  

Did Esther meet her goals for the last 2 weeks?

Esther’s game plan:

1. As I mentioned above, I suggested Esther keep fewer snacks in her apartment.
2. Work more on planning alcohol/ food intake at social occasions for the week ahead.
3. 1300-1400 calories
4. Exercise: private training 2x, pilates 1-2x, cardio 3-4x
5. Weigh portions of protein at night. It is difficult for me to estimate your calories if I don’t know the exact portions.
6. 4 alcoholic drinks a week. Be strict!!

(pic to the right is of Esther’s new spinning shoes. She bought them a gift to herself to help keep her motivated to take spinning classes. I think it is a great idea to buy yourself new workout clothing, gadgets or equipment on occasion to help motivate yourself!)

Keep up the great work! We are cheering for you to meet your goal of getting under 130 by the end of October.

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