August

My last post was in February and indicated I was entering a plateau period, both in weight loss and in motivation. I sounded hopeful that things would turn around. Oops...they didn't.
March I went to Florida and was very disappointed when I put on 5 pounds. That surprised me because both of my daughters prepare health conscious meals. Jen carefully watches fat and sugar. Jan is very conscous of portion sizes. Neither girl has bought into the idea that if people are present you have to make big meals with lots of food AND dessert.

As I look back on this summer, my travels, and other things I have discovered a few things.
1) Exercise is crucial not only to weight loss, but even to maintenance. When I visit my kids, I don't get in the walking that I do at home. The same was true of winter time. I lose weight best when I can get outside to walk. I enjoy it more than walking inside, like with the 'mall walkers'. 10,000 steps is crucial for weight loss. 6,000-8,000 is needed for maintenance.

2) There is a change. This all started last summer because I had a hard time keeping up with Jen when we were at a theme park. I recognized she wasn't going that fast, but I was walking really slowly. This year I notice that when walking with a group I now have to slow myself down. I've picked up my pace. Apparently you can teach an old dog new tricks. It is one change I am really pleased with!

3) I lost 15 pounds and put 5 back on. I am still 10 pounds lighter than last year. I have 10 pounds to go, but I want to lose 15 simply because I usually put 5 back on when I try to maintain.

I've been walking a lot this summer. I added the townships walking path to my routine. On a good week I do 2 miles minimum every day, and often 3-5 miles a couple of days a week. I haven't lost any weight, but I've enjoyed it.

The quest goes on. I don't give up even if I don't see change. I know if I give up, the weight goes back on and THAT is defeat.

Ready for Spring

It's been a while since I have posted anything, which is a good indication that things have not been going really well in the diet mode. My problem is that I'm bored with the program and my motivation is running low. I haven't really put any weight back on--yet--but I think if I don't turn this around that could happen.

Evaluation:
When my husband goes on short business trips I use that time to eat light, and get projects done. A late walk in the day works well because I'm not trying to get dinner ready. But when he goes away a lot, which always happens in February, I get tired of my light meals and I'm bored at home. I munch more, meet friends and eat out, keep busy (which seems to interfere with workouts), and generally lose focus on my goals. Also, the weather is not conducive to good walks. I get out some, but not as much as in the fall, spring or summer.

I still have my goal in sight. 10 more pounds. But right now, I'm taking an unplanned break. March is coming, but it isn't much better. The days will still be cold. There will be more wind. I'll get out, but not as much as I should. I've never been good at talking myself into doing something I'm not in the mood to do. Hopefully April will bring some improvements? Hmmm,  this is not a very challenging or motivating post is it? Maybe the fact that I posted anything at all indicates I am ready to focus again.

The Jeans Test

I may like to weigh myself a lot, but the best test of any weight loss plan is the fit of your clothes. Today I pulled on a clean pair of jeans. They zipped right up. Even the snap was easy to close. (Obviously I prefer the zip style to Levi's 501 Button Flap jeans!)

My jeans are still size 12. My goal is size 10. But what caught my attention is that I frequently found myself hiking up my jeans. I needed a belt! That tends to happen after I've worn them a few times, but not on the first day.

Subtle changes....little steps....but they're all good! One day at a time, one pound at a time. That's all I can ask for.

Seeing a Difference

I've been much better this week. I've managed to work out every other day, even when I didn't want to. Today it is snowing, so my work out will actually come a little later when I go out to shovel snow. That is a full body workout--legs, back, arms, shoulders, abs. It pretty much hits all muscle groups, and is aerobic as well. There were times this week when I didn't want to walk or work out, but I took my own advice and just did it.

There was one day when I cut my walk short, which is unusual. Normally, once I start, the dog keeps me going and we do the full mile or go for 2. The day in question I was uncomfortable because the sidewalks were slippery, the streets were salty and it was late in the day when people were coming home from work. As I neared the entrance I felt more and more  like a target on the street, so we took the shorter inside route with less traffic and came home.

Best part??? Instead of losing my usual 1 pound I lost 1.5 pounds!!!! Even better, the inches really dropped off when I measured myself. Even that dastardly mid-section that just loves looking like a balloon gave up a couple of inches. That's what I'm looking for!

Today is cold and I will be outside soon shoveling snow. I usually wear long underwear under my sweats, but today I switched it up. I have my longjohns on under my jeans! No problem! Plenty of room. I may get into those size 10's yet. Here's hoping....

Mashed Potatoes--Yummy, But Not On My Diet

We went out to dinner last night. It was nice having Larry home and we celebrated with a nice dinner at Applebee's. We were pretty good. We skipped the appetizer and I ordered from the 'under 550 calories' part of the menu. But then I asked if I could substitue the Garlic Mashed for the Herbed red skins.

I'm pretty sure that messed up the whole "550 Calorie" idea. I've had that platter as it is served and it is very good. I just wanted the garlic mashed. It wasn't the end of the world and I had been pretty good yesterday, but this morning when I woke up I couldn't help ask myself Why?

I know Why. I forgot the one mantra that has always helped me stick to a plan. "Not now, maybe later".
When I am trying to avoid a behavior this is what always works for me. When I say it I'm reminding myself I'm not forbidding it. This isn't the last chance I will ever have to: have a piece of chocolate cake, drink a beer, dive into that spinach artichoke dip, etc. I'm simply not going to do it right now.

I quit smoking that way. For several months I kept putting off that next cigarette. I went from 2 packs a day to none, cold turkey. But my mentality was that I just wasn't going to do it now. After a year I accepted the fact I had quit.

The next time I go out to eat I need to remember my mantra when I look at the menu. "Would you like dessert?" "Not now, maybe later." "Can I get you a drink, or an appetizer?" "Not now, maybe later." It's a mental exercise that works for me. I've just forgotten about it.

Time to reinstate it. NOW, not later!

My Best Effort

I'm really proud of myself today. I got up early knowing I had a 10:30 appointment and before I did anything else, (besides feed the dog of course--gotta have priorities!) I did a full workout. I was especially pleased with myself because I allowed myself no distractions, no excuses. I can spread a workout over an hour and a half, and heaven forbid I start to pant or perspire too much!
Today I just did it. I checked each exercise off the list. I did 3 sets of 15 reps. I powered through the exercises I hate. I Just Did It!
Hmmm, that reminds me. Didn't I do a post on this several weeks back? I believe I did. It was on August 13, and I titled it "Nike Was Right".
The hardest part about working out is getting started. Excuses are so easy to find. Too tired, too busy, not in the mood..... But when you start, you keep on going. I always surprise myself and do more than I think I will.
Winter or Summer, the excuses are there. In winter they are easier to find because I'm house bound. But the answer is still the same.
Nike was right. JUST DO IT!
And I did!  YEA, ME!

Mid Week Busy-ness

I started the week out pretty well with a workout on Monday and getting all my Christmas decorations put away on Tuesday, but I haven't gotten out for a walk in the last couple of days. With sleet Tuesday, the sidewalks weren't safe, plus I was busy cleaning up all that holiday stuff. The good news is that I DID do almost 9,000 steps that day. During the holidays I ignored my pedometer. As busy as I was with company, I couldn't have walked anymore than I did, so I saw no reason to go into a serious depression because I was only attaining 5,000 or 6,000 steps a day!

Yesterday I only hit 5,000 steps, but it was my day to work at the food pantry. I wasn't able to do my work-out routine, but after packing all that food my shoulders, arms, back and abs, assured me I had had a workout anyway.

This is my 'busy week'. The 3rd week of the month I have the Food Pantry and the Corvette Club meetings on Wednesday, followed by Bible Study Thursday morning and Bunco Thursday night. The afternoons on both those days are short and a good time for errands so I rarely get to work out then. All of those specific activities severly curtail my opportunity for getting my 10,000 steps in.

Tomorrow is Friday. I need to start my morning with a good workout in order to keep on track. That's my plan. Meanwhile the scales are holding steady. As long as they don't go up......!

Taking the First Step

I did it. I worked out today. I made sure it wasn't just a note on my To-Do list, but was numbered as the 3rd thing I did this morning, right after an early appointment and an important phone call. And then I did it!

I'm also happy to report that today for the 3rd day in a row, (which means it counts) I weighed 137.5.

I don't think I've been under 140 in 4-5 years and if then, only briefly. Progress is being made! The work out will just help tone my body so when I succeed and hit 125 I'm not rolling in extra skin.  Eww.

Time to get back to it!

The holidays are over and the new year has begun. It is now time to resume my efforts to lose another 10 to 15 pounds. I find my biggest problem is getting back to a routine. Walking several days a week and working out a few days a week just hasn't happened. I've thought about it, but it seems to stop there. I suddenly find myself thinking of projects to work on.

The really good news is that somehow I made it through the holidays in very good shape. Neither Larry nor I put on any weight!!! That was the result I hoped for, but I didn't really expect it. I haven't measured myself yet, but again I don't expect any change there, either. It's possible I could find a slight increase in muscle area since I haven't been working out, but I had another suprise there today as well.

When I was dressing for church I put on a light blue sweater and without thinking, pulled out my navy slacks. I was dressed and heading out the door before it hit me. I had tried to wear the same outfit before Christmas but I couldn't button the waistband. This morning--no problem!!!

Last year my New Year's goal was to lose 25 pounds. I didn't make it, but I did the most important thing. I started. And I got almost two-thirds of the way there. So this year I hope to end the year at 125 pounds. That means I need to lose about 13 pounds... AND KEEP IT THERE.

Time to start working out. I'll keep you posted.