a fresh start

When I wincingly stepped on the scale this morning, it did not groan under my feet and cease functioning. No warning lights flashed, no sirens went off.  Today’s weigh in — 170 even.  Not great, but given the abuse I’ve handed my body over recent weeks, not bad.

My plan for this week is simple — get back on track.  Get back to counting calories and watching portions.  Get back to a daily exercise regime.  No huge changes or ultimatums.  Calories in, calories out.  So far this week, I’ve logged a whopping seven miles — that’s a combination of walking and elliptical.  Not huge, but a hell of a lot more than I’ve logged in weeks, so I’m allowing myself a measure of pride.

In December we’re taking the kids to Paris and I’m going to race my husband to the top of the Eiffel Tower (well, the second stage — you can’t actually walk all the way to the top), so I’m on a mission.  It would be a lot easier to beat him if I was carrying…. say, ten pounds less up the stairs with me.  That’s my goal: 160 by December 22nd.

wednesday weigh in

Hang on, I’ve got to run over to the Sisterhood for a sec…. OK, I’m back!  I had to go and get this:

Because I have finally earned my 5# button. Remember, I got it once, but then gained a bit back, then my scale went crazy, and all hope of earning the button seemed out the window? Well, what do ya know? Working hard, watching your calories, and not saying “to heck with it” when you make one little mistake and throwing the whole day away… it all adds up.

I’m down to 163.0, which is down 1.5 pounds since last week’s weigh in. I’m pretty chuffed! This weekend I didn’t do as well as I’d hoped — a few too many glasses of wine, etc. But rather than blow the whole weekend as a result, I stayed on course. I still worked out. I watched my calories during the day, even though I knew I’d probably be indulging in the evening. And here I am, smiling.

My habit training is going quite well, I think, but in much more general terms than I had originally delineated. I’m getting a good night’s sleep, every night. And I’m working out, every day. (Every day except for one planned day off per week.) And I’m updating my blog, not daily, but regularly.

Sadly (??) I’m not going to be around for the start of the next challenge. We’re leaving for our vacation on the 28th and will be gone for two weeks. No internet connection, rarely even any cell phone coverage. Maybe one of my *big sisters* can slip me the deets a couple days ahead of time, so I can play along too?

*hint, hint, wink wink*

Wedneday is weigh-in day

I’m up half a pound this week.  That’s probably hormone-related, but I’m not going to sweat it or try to rationalize it.  I’m working out every day, I’m staying within my calorie limit.  I’m doing everything right.  The scale will move.

So this week, instead of paying attention to the scale, which we all know to be fickle and mean-spirited, I’m going to pay attention to something more trustworthy — the tape measure.  I’ve lost a little bit here and there, quarter inches for the most part, on various parts of my body since first measuring three weeks ago.  Some measurements haven’t changed at all.  But the one number that makes me smile?  I’ve lost 1.25 inches on my waist.

The other trustworthy measurement I can make — I feel great.  I feel fitter, stronger, firmer.  Also happier, calmer, kinder.  It’s amazing what eating clean, drinking light, exercising often, and sleeping well can do for you!

weekly weigh in

For the first time in…. well, forever, I was excited to step on the scale this morning.  I knew I’d see a substantial loss.  Because I’ve been working out nearly every day — hard work, sweating, swearing, gasping.  And because I’ve been tracking my calories like a fanatic and know I’ve created a calorie deficit.  OK, and because I’ve stepped on the scale multiple times during the week to *check* on things.

Last week: 166.0

This week: 164.0

Two pounds!!

The funny thing is, it’s not that I’ve finally stumbled upon the right plan, the right diet, the right exercise dvd…  The desire to lose weight has always been there.  But the attempts have been half-hearted.  I knew what I needed to do, and I truly wanted the results, but I didn’t want to do the work.  I would say I don’t have the time, the baby needs me, it’s too hot/cold/rainy/snowy, I’m too tired… but what all that really means is that I didn’t want to do the work.  Because when you want the change bad enough to do the work, you find the time.  Or you take the baby with you.  Or you wear less/more/whatever the elements require.  Or you go to bed earlier.  There are solutions to all those things that get in the way.  I just had to be willing to make the changes those solutions required.

I feel good right now.  Great.  I’m on a high because the scale is going down.  I’m wearing shorts that were uncomfortable to button a month ago.  My shoulders are exhausted, in a good way, from my workout earlier today.  I’m zinging with energy from my morning run (it’s got to be the run — I’ve cut my coffee allowance in half!).  I need to remember how I feel right this very moment.  Because no doubt there will come a day soon when I don’t feel like working out.  Or want to go hog wild on a pizza.

I need to remember how I feel right… this… very… moment.

weekly weigh in

It’s final weigh in day for the Shrinking Jeans summer challenge. I’d love to be able to post here about how awesome I did, and how fantastic I feel to have seen it through and made such great progress.

But I just couldn’t seem to find that “oomph” I needed to really make any headway.  I got too busy with other things — all good, noble, profitable things — and put my fitness journey to the side.  As I look back through my archives, I see lots of good intentions over the last few months, but all quickly abandoned when “life” got in the way.  Sigh.  I really, really want to lose this weight and be healthy and happy with my body.  It is daily on my mind.  So why haven’t I been able to commit?  Not to one particular set of goals, but to my own health?

I’ve just started back on a highly structured program that has worked for me in the past.  But I feel no joy.  Because I don’t think I’ll see it through.  I think that, before I’ll be able to move forward with my weight loss, I need to figure out exactly why I’m giving it the short shrift.  Do I not think I’m worth it?  Do I like to “hide” behind my weight?

I’m afraid that the reality might be that I’ve given up.  I go through the motions and say the right things, but I fear a large part of me (ha ha, even in the midst of self-pity I am humorous) has simply accepted that this is “me.”  That I’m the short, fat, quiet one in the corner.

This week’s weigh in: 164.5

That’s up 1.5 pounds from last week.

weekly weigh in

I could make all kinds of excuses, but the truth of the matter is my heart was elsewhere this week. I didn’t give my diet and exercise the attention it deserved. I didn’t put anything into it, and as a result I have nothing to brag about.

Last week: 163.0
This week: 163.0

I tend to be an all-or-nothing kind of person. I’ll devote myself completely to my latest passion, then kind of brush it aside when I get embroiled in something else. I can NOT let that happen this time.

So… my plan to combat my lackadaisical efforts… I will be tracking here, everyday, for the next week:

what and how much I eat — knowing someone may be reading should help me stay on track!
pedometer readings — 10,000 steps per day as a minimum.
at least two weight workouts.
push up challenge participation.
sit up challenge participation.

**note: all this tracking will start tomorrow, because Wednesday is my “day off” so to speak!**

Queen Half-Pound

The great news: I have adiosed my size 14s from the closet, never to be worn again! I’m back in my size 12s, and feeling much better now that I don’t look like the saggy-baggy elephant every time I get dressed..

The good news: I ate well all week and didn’t touch a single glass of wine. You don’t know the dedication that took, believe me!

The bad news: it’s been in the 80s here, and horribly muggy, so I’ve been doing really poorly at getting my exercise in. I know 80s is nothing to many of you, but here in Belgium it’s really something we’re just not used to. Oh, and I know no one with A/C. So a pretty bad job on the exercise this week.

The meh news: I lost another half pound, putting my weight now at 163.0. I had really hoped that by cutting out my nightly wine(s) I’d see a better result. I think the lack of exercise cost me what I might otherwise have seen.

I am dubbing myself the Queen of the Half-Pound Loss. Every week, half a pound. Let’s see, I’ve got about thirty more pounds I want to lose. That means that by NEXT September I should be looking great.

weekly weigh in

Hey, look over there. <—– See that button? It's about freakin' time!

Last week: 164.0
This week: 163.5

Small changes, I know. Apparently I am the tortoise in this race. But isn't he the one that wins in the end? I need to keep reminding myself that weight lost fast usually comes back. And that slower is surer, and probably healthier. Yadda, yadda, yadda. No, really, I am pleased. Just we've all heard all those things, so many times before, haven't we?

What? You think if I gave up my nightly glass(es) of wine I might be moving a little faster? Well, you want to know what I think??

Sigh. I think you're right. Tell you what, I'll give up my wine for a week if you pledge to give up something as well. Your evening screwdriver, or that little bowl of ice cream you've been indulging in nightly, or those chips you've been sneaking. Yeah, that's right, I'm talking to YOU. Takers?

I want that button!

I’ve been at the Sisterhood for five weeks now. I’ve met some great women, been inspired, been encouraged, and been more focused on my health than I’ve been in a long time.

Unfortunately, I still haven’t been as focused as I ought to be. My big issue in recent weeks has been exercise. Making time for it, making it fun, making it not hurt, making it a habit. I haven’t done well here. Shredding and jogging have proven too much for my over-abused knees. Step aerobics bore me, exercise DVDs as well. And if you’re hurt by or bored with what you’re doing, you won’t keep at it.

Luckily, Thea came to my rescue. She posted here about how her pedometer helps her to stay on track. And also about an online tracking tool for logging your steps and following virtual trails. Hey! I’ve got a pedometer….somewhere. I’ve also got a state of the art jogging stroller — or at least it was top of the line back when we bought it almost six years ago. And I’ve got a five year old with boundless energy.

So now we’re walking, every day. I’m just getting started with counting the steps, as it took me four days to finally track down my pedometer. But we’ve been doing more walking and fewer car trips. We walk to the local market every other day for fresh fruit and veg. We’re beginning to explore the neighborhood and side streets and the towpaths along the canal. And it’s been nice. And I haven’t been feeling exasperated that because I’m in Mom-mode 24/7, I can’t fit in exercise.

Will I lose weight as quickly as I would if I was shredding, or running, or going to the gym? Most likely not. But this is something I can stick with, I can do with kids in tow, and I will enjoy. Progress may be slow, but progress it will be.

My starting weight at the sisterhood: 168.5
last week: 164.5
this week: 164.0

Only half a pound down this week. I’m not surprised. DH was gone, now we’re all sick with a head cold and don’t have much energy to move. But, aside from that, do you see the problem? I’ve lost 4.5 pounds. That’s great! But I so desperately wanted to hit 163.5 this week, so I could proudly display that #5 button! Next week it’s mine!

weekly weigh in

It has not been an easy week in the Long Road household. DH is still gone, the kids are missing Daddy and whiny and grumpy as a result. Actually, today is the worst day yet, come to think of it. The only thing that earns me a few minutes respite is Thomas the Tank Engine. I’m not a fan of television-as-babysitter, but there are days when it is necessary for my sanity. Today is one of those days.

But I digress.

Last week: 165.5
This week: 164.5

Created by MyFitnessPal – Online Calorie Counter

One pound loss. My goal for this challenge at the sisterhood is ten pounds in seven weeks. Only nine more to go!

The moral of this story: stress burns more calories than you think!