The Plan Part 2--The Diet

I know I can't lose weight on exercise alone, but finding the right dieting program has been difficult. For the last 2 years I have tried a food diary, portion control, counting calories and preparing low fat meals. While all that has helped slow weight gain, it has made little difference beyond losing 3-4 pounds, which inevitably reappeared after a party or a fun weekend. Instead, over the last 4 years it has gone up an average of 10 pounds a year.

The only weight loss program that ever really worked for me was the Atkins diet. Pittsburgh is full of great Italian restaurants and ethnic foods. It is not an easy place to go low carb! However, when all else fails, go with what works. The last time I tried this I was 15 years younger. I lost 25 pounds, felt better than I had in years, and was able to keep the weight off for several years. My downfall was the year the 'cake cook' came to our school. She made the best chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting I'd ever had and she always saved me a big piece. It was a stressful year in several ways and the pounds starting creeping back on.

I have found the power to try it again. Since I have done it before and know what works, I will modify it to fit me. I will include dairy for calcium, and fruit on a limited basis. Mostly what will be cut out is the sugar, but complex carbs will be allowed in small portions.

I don't believe in one weight loss program for all. My sister tried Atkins and as soon as she added in one carb she would add pounds. Another friend who ate a lot of fruit felt very sluggish and got headaches when she tried Atkins. Curiously, I was just the opposite. I had more energy and my mid-morning headache went away. So it's what works for YOU, right??

Because I believe diets are very individual, I will not spend much time on this blog sharing my food issues. But temptations are a different matter! When I start to complain too much feel free to ask me if I'd like a glass of 'whine' with that. I'm sure it will be deserved.
Today's total---13,000 steps!!!

The Plan Part 1--Exercise? UGH

Recently my daughter and I went to see the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at the Isle's of Adventure. We knew it would be crowded. We got there early and wanted to get to that part of the park as quickly as possible. She had mapped out the route we would take. As soon as we got our tickets we were off. Correction...She was off. I was huffing and puffing behind her trying to keep up. As I looked at her I realized she really wasn't walking all that fast. I was just walking very slowly.

My first step to a healthier life is to pick up the pace. That's bad news for Maggie. When I walk her, I've been letting her pick the pace. We stop and sniff at trees, poles, and visit with neighbors. I've seen our walks more as entertainment for her, than exercise for either of us. In the heat of the summer I am also hesitant to push her on long walks. All of this has helped me lose whatever pace I once had.

Now first thing after Larry leaves for work in the morning I head out on a fast walk. Maggie gets the slower walk in the evening. That's a win-win for me. 2 walks in one day. Yea! Unfortunately, I've tried this before, but something always comes up to interfere and break up the routine. My challenge will be to keep this up when fall hits and I have places to be in the morning, or in the winter when it is cold and snowy.

Keep with me. Help keep me honest and active!
Today's total--14, 152 steps!!!!!!

Desperate to Lose!

I have had it! I am desperate to lose .... 30 pounds. 30 pounds you say with incredulity??? You are blogging over 30 pounds? Puhleeze!!!!

Yes, I am desperate. I need to lose 30, but for now I'll settle for 20. At least that will be a positive step in the right direction. I am actually 50 pounds heavier than when I got married. Over the last 3 years I have tried to lose weight, only to see it creep up instead of down. I have counted calories and kept a food diary. I have tried to walk. For awhile I was working out. But I lacked consistency in all of these endeavors. 3 pounds down, 4 pounds down, but then it would pop back up again. Last summer I was visiting my daughter and decided when I got home I was going to give 110% and get to the small private gym I had joined. Going through the mail, once I was home, I discovered a letter from my gym saying they were closing at the end of the month. Talk about a downer!

I decided I could go it alone. I had some workout equipment. I renewed my subscription to SELF Magazine because they had new workout cards every month so I figured I could change my workout up. As usual I failed. I couldn't stay consistent. During the cold winter months I found every excuse in the book. I put on 5 more pounds.

So here is my new tactic. It's time to enlist a new support group. YOU! I have a plan, but I need to stick to it. To hold myself accountable, I will post several times a week and let you know how I am doing. I am wearing a pedometer daily and have stuck to the plan for almost 2 weeks now. But this only means that soon something will come up to derail me. Maybe if I have to confess my soul online, I'll be motivated to keep going. It really is 'baby steps', isn't it?

Tomorrow I will share my plan and give you an update on how well I've managed. I'll be honest and tell you about the bad days and the failed temptations. I need your encouragement, your ideas, and yes.... you are welcome to knock me on the side of the head when I need it. It's not fun being tired, and sluggish, and chunky. I want to fit in my clothes again. I am lookimg for some teammates and some cheerleaders! I hope you'll be one of them.

See you tomorrow. Same Blog, New Baby Step.