Saturday, April 21, 2007

4.4 more, that's 20.6 in 8 weeks!


This was an amazing week for me. I really thought I was going to hit that scale with no weightloss whatsoever. I did a lot of physical stuff at work and, though I didn't keep my commitment to walk at least a mile 3 times last week, I did walk 2 days and then there was lots of standing, walking and moving at work.

Stepping on that scale and learning I'd lost 4.4 pounds was amazing. I still can't believe it.
So, I had pictures taken that morning and decided to wear the same outfit I'd worn in the first pictures, for comparison. There isn't MUCH difference in the picture, but I sure can feel it in my clothes. I'm wearing jeans I've not worn for a year.

I worked my tushy off on Thursday at work...to the point I was physically exhausted when I got home that evening. Took my son out to dinner Friday night and caught up with him, I ate some dungeness crab and he had a bowl of beer boiled shrimp. The shrimp were the whole shrimp and the look on his face was PRICELESS. He ate them and enjoyed every bite. My crab was scrumptious. :)

I had Friday off and enjoyed being a lazy person. Thursday really kicked my butt. Took my doggie for a walk today. I was having some pain in my knee so I decided not to push it too hard. The walk was only 30 mins and a little less than a mile but I came back feeling that I'd moved, that's for sure! Also, once I was just about home, my knee stopped hurting so I'll probably go for another stroll this evening.

Tomorrow is the 7 year anniversary of the day Jef and I met for the first time face to face in a Starbucks in Newark, CA. We talked and talked and decided to take a walk in a nearby park and talk some more. We hiked and talked, got rained on and found that we really enjoyed each other's company. A friendship began that day that's carried us through some rough spots these past few years. There's a big hurdle still happening, and times have been rough, but he has the power to fix it...so we'll see what happens next.

I weighed a bit less back then...put on about 110 pounds since that day. Kind of sad, to think I was 30 pounds away from my goal and I let it slip away. But I learned that I have to LIVE a new way of fueling my body with the occasional splurge. I've learned to find the feeling behind the desire to eat when I'm not hungry and honor it, and then the feeding frenzy passes with no damage to my body or mind.

For instance: I came home Thursday and I just wanted to eat whatever I could, everything I could think of! Anything I could think of! Then I took the time to think about it and I realized that what was really going on was this huge sense of relief. That the hard part of the work year, the really difficult part, is over. The rest of the year is about regrouping and preparing for the next year. I was relieved and I think behind it was a bit of a feeling that I deserved a reward of some sort. But it really helped just to acknowledge and completely allow myself to feel the relief I was feeling. To FLOP myself on the bed and let out an "AAAHHHHH! YESSSSS" did wonders for my peace of mind.

I'm also learning not to stuff my feelings, but to share them, as openly and honestly as I can, while considering the other person's feelings as they hear my words. (mostly...I'm not perfect.)

It's been a tiring week, but a good week and I'm feeling good about my progress and still oh so motivated it's rather sickening. I really have "flipped a switch" and nothing is going to get in the way of my goal this time. NOTHING. I'm sure there are some bumps in the path ahead, that's life, but life doesn't have to derail my choice to live a healthier lifestyle.

I do notice that, with the increase in movement, I get hungrier, so I might want to look at my points allowance in the future and re-figure them based on a more active lifestyle. I think this has worked so well because I am NOT hungry when the days daily calories are consumed, I'm enjoying every bite and I can eat pretty much whatever I like as long as I account for it.

I'm really enjoying the Hungry Girl website and get the daily newsletter with tips and tricks and reviews of new foods out there for those of us making heathier choices, so if you haven't already, go there and sign up, I promise you'll be glad you did.

I think I've gone on way too long once again, so I'll end this post by saying I feel great. Thanks for reading!

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

1.4 pounds. Total loss now 16.2

I'm pretty happy to have an avg weight loss of 2lbs a week. :)

This week, I will avoid eggs-cuses and get out and WALK. At least 3 times this week I will walk for at least one mile.

The good news is, when we return from our mini vacation, we'll be placed in a site that is right NEXT to the swimming pool. What a perfect time of year...June to Sept at poolside. SWEET! I'll be getting some movement in the pool, gotta find my noodle. :)

Also learned about a yoga class for 50% off...something like 58 bucks for 8 sessions I think. I am curious and that's a good price to check it out. Not sure it's for me, but 58 (there is also a 45 dollar intro class special...6 classes I think) dollars makes it something to consider. I have to take advantage before the end of April if I am going to do it...dunno yet. It's not convenient to home...and walking and swimming is...so we'll see.

I also want to get a bicycle. A GOOD one. With a really cool, comfy seat like I saw at www.campingworld.com because the main deterent to riding a bike is that my butt starts hurting pretty bad, even though I want to continue riding. So that's one of my rewards to myself in the near future I think.

I talked to one of the ladies tonight at weigh in and she said I have to eat ALL my calories or I'll slow my weight loss down...I guess it's metabolism or something...so, as much as I struggle to do so, I'll work harder at it...

Saw my son tonight, he's doing ok, and I got lots of hugs and "I miss you's". That was bittersweet, but I'm glad he misses me, cuz I miss him too. I did tell him to call his grandma Sharon, so I hope he will. (crossing my fingers.)

Busy busy at work, too busy sometimes to remember to eat or drink, but I'm managing.
Still very dedicated, maybe a bit obsessed...so I need to MOVE and eat all my food this week and every week to come...

So, my promise to myself and to my blog readers is that next post I will happily say I walked at LEAST 3 times this week, for a mile or more. See you next week!

.8 and that's not great...but going in the right direction

Guess that weekend trip went over points just a bit.

I have GOT to start walking again, enough of this fear of tachycardia...just get MOVING.

Added a few interesting things to the blog: The "ticker" to the left there shows my total weight loss, and there are links at the bottom of the page to some of my favorite sites to use during this progression to the me I used to be.

Jef was going thru his plastic cards last night and found a picture of me from when we met 7 years ago, yes 7 years ago. My hair looked terrible, but my face is sooooo different. And it's obvious that my son looks like me in that picture. I'll have to scan it and include it in the next entry.

Weigh in again tonight! I think I lost a few more pounds...we'll see.....

Tuesday, April 3, 2007

14 down, 15 to go!

Good week, nothing really to report. My son is still choosing not to live at home and I'm adjusting to that. Injured my back at work, just STANDING there...how crappy is that??? But still hobbled in to be weighed and found I'd lost another 2 lbs. :)

15 more to get to the first goal of 10% less than my starting weight.

I'm not struggling at all, in fact I've lost a few allowed calories and that's kinda cool. (I've been tempted to eat a few calories less than I'm told I can to help speed this process up! - but know that's not a good idea...still...I AM tempted.)

The ultimate goal is to celebrate my 47th birthday at my ideal weight of 145 lbs and at this rate, I do believe I'll get there!

I'm pretty diligent about tracking EVERYTHING I put in my face and planning ahead, at least day by day. I usually start by deciding - with Jef - what's for dinner, then I plan the rest of my meals to allow for whatever we are having. This way, Jef eats pretty much what he wants to eat, and I stick to my plan. :) It's been working from the start and I've enjoyed things like whole wheat pasta with alfredo sauce and proscuitto...sometimes with the added deliciousness of shrimp too! And Chili dogs! I figure, I want my calories to COUNT! I want to enjoy delicious stuff, not just anything...funny how that priority changes when you are paying attention to what you eat. I like it. Everything I eat must be delicious, or I consider it a complete waste of time and calories. I think that's a good thing.

Didn't blog til late because we took a trip to Calabasas, CA for the Methodfest Film Festival where I met an internet friend face to face. What a fantastic time we had! I just adore this person and am so grateful to have the internet that connected us. Jef enjoyed meeting him too and we had a great time. I did break my toe though, and that sucked.

Had a wonderful salad down there that was a variation on one of my favorite salads to make at home...so I now have a new way to enjoy one of my favorites that adds bulk without adding calories. YAY for new ideas.

I also discovered Kernel Season's Popcorn seasoning. 2 tbsp is only 50 calories and that is more than enough to sprinkle on my low fat popcorn. A few spritzes of "I can't believe it's not butter" and I am in white cheddar popcorn HEAVEN. It's a great salty/crunchy snack and only about 180 calories...for a whole bag!!! Yes, I DO eat the whole bag. :) I'm just glad it's in the stores now and not just at my favorite movie theater.

14 pounds. I'm pretty happy about that. Was entertaining thoughts of wearing clothes I wore when I met Jef 7 years ago...of course that is about a year away, but I am looking forward to that.

Since I hadn't rewarded myself in the last few weeks of success, I combined them all up to a nice hotel and a rented car for trouble free travel to Calabasas and just enjoyed the heck out of watching films and seeing my friend and the nice drive with Jef. It was worth waiting for. :)

More this Saturday!