Phase 2: Mission Completion

FINALLY!! This day came about 2 months after I hoped it would. But even after a long wait, I am happy to report that I have accomplished Phase 2 of Operation: Burn the Baby Fat!! With my weigh-in this morning, my weekly loss was 2 pounds! But I was 1.5 pounds below my previous low weigh-in. This brings my total loss to 21.5 pounds! And my percentage lost at 10.4%. And for my reward, I think I will treat myself to a new hairstyle. I am hoping to get my hair cut this next week. I'll post before and after pics at that time. Here's to another good week--one day at a time!

Weigh-in and a few changes

Well, at least I'm maintaining! Too bad I'm maintaining about 30 pounds above where I would like to be. Oh, well! I'll try to look on the bright side of things. I weighed in .5 pounds above last weeks weigh-in. It's not too bad. I just find it strange that I haven't lost anything in over a month.


So, I've decided to make a few changes. The first change is actually not a change at all, and I can't even start it yet because it hasn't arrived. My husband ordered me a fitbit for Mother's Day and it has been on back order for a while and likely won't even arrive until long after Mother's Day is over. This little device is to be worn throughout my day to track my active vs. inactivce periods to help me know when I need to make changes so I can be more active. It will also tell me how restful my sleep is at night--or, more appropriate, how unrestful it is! It will be interesting.


Next change, my SIL started a 1000 minute club with our family (although, I think it might be just her and I that are going to do it). The idea of this is that over the next 10 weeks we will walk 1000 minutes in addition to our regular exercise. I think this will help me break through those moments of inactivity that I'm experiencing throughout my day. Also, it will be nice to get my kids out on their bikes to get them moving as well.

Last, I think I need to be eating more. Sounds funny to say, but I think it's true. Now, I've never been a doctor or even enjoyed or even taken the classes they have taken to become one. But it seems to me that losing weight is hard work for a body. And, if it doesn't have enough fuel to help burn that fat away, then it won't be able to do it; and it will just hold onto that extra fluff that I'm trying to get rid of. (Correct me if I'm wrong Josie!) So, I need to start eating more fruits and vegetables. To help in this endeavor, I'm doing two things. The first is that I am planting a garden. In fact, I planted my peas, broccoli, and cauliflower just last week. This will be a good way for me to be active as well as get some great veges into our house. Also, I have joined a co-op called "Bountiful Baskets" where I go on Saturdays and pick up a big basket of fruits and vegetables for a fraction of the cost of getting it at the grocery store. I am looking forward to googling different recipes so I can cook up my new veges and get them in my body and my families' bodies so that we can be more healthy. I am really excited about it!

Okay, that's it for now. Thanks for letting me get all of this out so that I can be accountable for these changes. One day at a time!

Late Weigh-in

I know I'm late with this post, but I did weigh-in, and I had a 1/2-pound loss, so I'm back to having lost 20 lbs. I should be saying this with a lot of excitement and gusto, but I know what kind of a weekend it was and that it wasn't kind to me on the scale this morning. So, I'm hoping to kick things into gear this week and finally break through this barrier that I've hit over the past month. Luckily, the weather is nice, so I've been spending more time outside. However, I need to remember although just being outside and being more active is a good thing, I can't slack on my regular workouts. Just being outside and playing with my kids doesn't get my heart-rate up, so I need to be more aware of that.

I did move up another belt-loop over the weekend. The bad news is that I refuse to actually cinch it up that far because the extra bulges in my jeans are not appealing. So, until I break down and buy some new pants, I'll just have to get by with my belt on the second loop.

Here's to a good week!

Weigh-in

It has been a long week. Every time I saw the scale I was tempted to step on it, but I did resist until late last night--I just couldn't wait to see where I was at. Then this morning, I was kind of surprised to find that I had a loss this week. It was only a .5 lb. loss, but it was a loss. Also, considering that I had a pretty rough week and gave into the Easter bunny candy on more than one occasion, I am happy to see a loss. I did have a measured improvement in my water intake and I did have some good workouts early on in the week, but didn't get in my big Thursday night/pre-weigh-in workout due to one lame excuse or another. It was nice to not have to worry about weighing in every night and morning, but instead, I worried that I was going to have a huge gain when I finally did weigh-in. So, I guess this experiment just shows me that I'm going to worry whether I weigh everyday or not, so I'll weigh myself when I feel like it and hopefully I won't obsess about it anymore.

Belt Loop Tracking

Since I won't be weighing myself daily for a while, I decided I could also track my progress by using belt loops. When I started this weightloss thing in January, I couldn't get my one and only belt on at all. I wasn't even close to getting to the first loop. Now that I am down 19 pounds, I can reach to the 2nd loop without sucking in or even having much "muffin-top" hangover. In fact, I bet I could even get to the 3rd loop, but the only jeans I have are probably 2 sizes too big, so I have a lot of folded over jeans for my belt to get over, too. I have to admit, I'm really excited about it!

Now, another issue that I am facing right now is that I am finding all of my clothes too big; but I am not where I want to be yet, so I don't want to (nor can I afford) to go out and buy a lot of new clothes right now. So, for all you "losers" out there, what are you doing for clothing during your time in-between sizes?

Pictures & New Resolve

I'm actually a day late posting my pictures. For anyone who has been eagerly awaiting them (ya, right!), I apologize for my tardiness.

Even though I haven't seen much of a difference on the scale, I can tell a difference in how my body looks. I finally have people telling me that they can see a difference, too. And that really helps to motivate me. I think that, for me, losing weight is a cyclical thing. I do well for a while, then I fall back a bit. The true test, though, is to deciding to put the past behind me and try again. I think the bad times when I do fall off the wagon, so to speak, serve a purpose as well. I can always tell a difference in how I feel when I don't eat well, and I don't want to feel that way. So, everytime I feel that way, it motivates me to do better the next time. Even though I do have hard times and weak times; overall, I can say that my habits are better. In looking at the big picture, I am making healthier choices than I was four months ago. So, I am on the right track, but recognize that I will have setbacks. I choose to not let my setbacks define my progress.

 One last thought, up to this point, I have been weighing myself twice each day--once in the morning, right when I wake up and once right before I go to bed. For this week, I've decided to not weigh myself until my weigh-in on Friday morning. Realistically, I want to be able to live my life as healthy as possible and not be so concerned about what the scale is telling me. I do think it is important to measure your progress occasionally, but I don't want my day to live and die by what the scale is telling me. It will be a challenge to stay away from the scale, but I think this will be a good test for me. That's all for now.

Frustrated! -- Trying to Look on the Bright Side

What's the point? I've been working my tail off, and I still gained again this week--another .5 pound. That puts my total loss for the month at a big, whopping 1.5 pounds. Lame! The only differences I can pin-point right now are that I started a new workout--the 30 Day Shred--and I haven't been drinking all of my water--but I've been drinking at least 64 ounces a day, for the most part. I guess, to look on the bright side, if I hadn't been trying so hard, it could have been a lot worse and I could have gained for the month rather than lost. I'm just frustrated--enough said.