Small steps.
I know what my goal is. To lose weight, to be skinnier (not skinny--old people don't look good skinny. They just look skinny...frail...old), to be fit, to be in good health. It ain't easy and it's not happening fast, but if I look closely, it may actually be happening.
One of the keys to a healthy lifestyle is having a plan. Recently I realized I was trying to do too much. At the end of the week I wanted a break, a day off. I needed to pace myself.
Motivation. I think I did better this week. I didn't do as much, but I carried through better. On Friday morning I got up and headed to the gym for my workout, followed by a 2 mile walk. This morning I got up and headed to the park for a 3 mile walk. I made it through the week with enough motivation to keep going. Small steps.
Energy. I had planned to spend the afternoon reading. But as the day wore on I kept doing tasks; laundry, another coat of paint on a table I'm refinishing, cleaning up a desk, washing out a cupboard... tasks. Trips up and down stairs as I put things away and straightened up little piles that had accumulated through the week. Even that 3 mile walk this morning on a hot and very humid day didn't wear me out. I did read, but I did much more.
Shape. The scales show little difference, but the mirror suddenly does. Today I wore a ribbed tank top that was on the Goodwill pile. It didn't look great, but it did look better than at the begining of the summer and for a long walk on a hot day, it was fine. Small steps.
My body feels tighter. At the end of the day, my gut that looks like I swallowed a balloon in the afternoon, today looked like the balloon had lost a bit of air.
Small Steps.
All I can do is keep on, keepin' on. Someday maybe I'll reach my goal. Thinner. Fitter. Lighter. Hopefully around 130. Keep on....
Showing posts with label weight loss goals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label weight loss goals. Show all posts
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Sunday, August 21, 2011
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.
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.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
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.
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.
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