Sunday, January 22, 2012

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Still at 219.2 this morning. I'm going to have to ramp up my workouts, or I'm not going to see a big difference in my weight. The food is same as usual, and most days I'm keeping it around 1100-1500 calories a day. Probably should read back in my posts from 2 years ago, and see what little tricks I'm forgetting. Simple things sometimes make all the difference.

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Slow-going.

Moving down slowly, but I guess I'm just spoiled, considering how quickly I lost weight the last time we went through this. Two pounds a week should be considered good progress, and yet, I'm feeling like I'm not doing enough.
I've started changing up my routine at the gym. Instead of just my standard treadmill-weights-go home routine, I've decided to do some heavier leg stuff. My theory is to build up the big muscle groups, so they can do the fat-burning for me.
I use the "Expresso" bike, which has the monitor on the front, and a video of your virtual ride. You can sync your bike with the one next to you, and compete, or just ride alone. You still have riders on your course to pass, but you're not racing. I have been setting it for the "Coastal Ride" which is about 2 miles, and the "Campus Loop" which is about 2.6. There are hills and downgrades, so it's like a real ride. And my legs are feeling the burn!!
New scale weighed me at 219 today. Slow-going. Only about 7 pounds so far.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

New scale.

Since day one, back in February of 2010, I've used the same scale. It's been a good friend, but it was time to jump start my motivation with something new. The old scale has been moved to the laundry room, and the new, fancy one is now in a place of honor in the master bath.
The old scale was pretty basic with a digital readout, and nothing fancy. But over the last couple years, I've gotten to where I'm just tired of its questionable memory. It seems that its memory will hold a weight for longer than the normal 24 hours. And I find it hard to believe that I will weigh the same, to the tenth, for up to 5 days straight. I don't think it was designed for someone like myself, who likes to weigh daily.
So this new one actually has memory for up to four people. And you can program it for your age and height, so it will also give you an approximate BMI. Another cool feature is the calorie readout. It will tell you how many calories you are allowed to eat, in order to maintain your current weight, based on your stats.
One problem: It weighs about 3 lbs heavier than my old one. So this morning, after having lost 5 lbs a few days ago, it looks like I'm back to 3 lbs lost. I weighed at 220 this morning, and started at 223. Oh well, it's just going to have to be this way. It's a sacrifice I'm making for the new and improved Biggest Loser scale!!

Friday, January 6, 2012

Going down, again...

Just a couple days into eating right again, and I'm down another 3 lbs. I didn't show any loss yesterday, so today kind of makes up for it.
Scale said 218 today. I'll make that summer goal for sure!

Funny, though, how just a few days of eating right suddenly makes such a difference. I don't realize when I'm doing it, but the second helping of mashed potatoes, or that fourth slice of pizza... It all adds up. And I'm paying for it now. But it's not a huge sacrifice... I actually feel so much better when I'm not loading up on carbs for no reason. These last few days have been full of protein and veggies. I've gotten to where I steam a big pan of carrots in the morning, and then just refrigerate them. Any time then during the day or evening when I want something quick, I grab a couple of those little carrots. I've never been a raw carrot person, but I love 'em steamed!

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Flashback!

OMG. I just looked back at the photo posted, ("Bonus Photo") on October 19, 2010. Why didn't someone tell me! ......okay, you did. But geez! I looked great! I think the transformation was so fast, I didn't realize. Now, having gained back some weight, I can look back at that photo and go WHOA!!! I gotta get there again!! LOL

GOAL!

On the downward track again. Weighed in at 221 this morning. That's two pounds since yesterday.
Honestly, I've known since the end of last year that I was going to have to crack down again on my habits, and I was sincerely looking forward to the holidays being over to start doing the right things again. I'm happy to be eating my egg whites for breakfast, and going to bed without feeling bloated is once again, a good feeling.
I've got many things to motivate me this time around, too. It's not been so long ago that I was shaking my size 12 booty around town, and it felt good. I'm not gonna lie... at age 48, I still love the attention I was getting. It's been a real bummer feeling like I've been a failure, but I know this is not only a project to get healthy, it's a learning process at the same time. I've got to wrap my brain around the maintaining bit.
This year, I've got two vacations planned: One in April back home to attend my niece's wedding, and another back east to help out in a family-run charity golf tournament held by my cousins. Some I haven't seen in 20 years, and some I've never met. I've got to look good, and I want to feel good for the trip.
For the wedding in April, I've already bought a dress. Okay, it was on sale. And yes, it's a 14. But at the time I bought it, I was, (and am still) in a 16, so buying that dress was not only a bargain, it also became my goal dress. It's a cute little sleeveless number with big flowers! Perfect for a spring wedding!
The way I look at it, I can be in that dress comfortably if I lose about 25 lbs. Somewhere around 195, I'm in a 14. It was at 173 when I wore a size 10, but that was short-lived. Being in a size 12, at 185, was a happy weight for me. And I think this time around, that's my goal.
Yes, Shelley, I have a goal. :-)

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Here we go again!

I don't even know where to begin. It's been so long since I've sat and put my thoughts down, I don't even think I can put a sentence together anymore.
I would have to look back on my posts from last spring to actually see where my train went off the track.
Back in the winter months of 2010, I rediscovered my self-respect. I started caring about what I put in my body, and how it affected my health... mental and physical. It was a quick weight loss, now that I think about it. I remember I lost 12 lbs in the first week! My body was so happy to have more vegetables, and lots less pasta and starch, the weight just fell off. Over the following months, I dropped 1-2 pounds per week, and sometime around September of that year, I was weighing in around 175. That was approximately 80 lbs dropped.
I stabilized around 185, and wore a size 12 for a number of months. I remember going to a New Year's Eve party going into 2011, and being able to wear a size SMALL waist chain. AND, it slung down on my hips. I was actually thin.
But I had never in my life lost that much weight. I had always been chubby, and started fad diets that would take off 5-10 lbs at a time. That would always come back on, and I almost expected it to. I never had a serious weight loss until that summer of 2010.
So, I had no clue how to KEEP it off. Obviously, exercise, and continued calorie maintenance was required. But because I had never been in this position before, I had no idea how much even the smallest variance in foods could affect the scale.
By spring of 2011, I had put back on a few pounds. I told myself, if I get to where I can't fit into a 14, I've got to get serious again, and bring it down. But it was hard to focus.
When I started the "diet", I had a focus, and a goal. And it was a challenge, to myself, to do it right and get back to my high school weight. Well, mission accomplished. But the keeping it off was what I didn't plan for.
So now, here it is almost the spring of 2012. I started this whole thing on February 2, 2010... and almost two years later, I have lost the 80 I needed to, and managed to put back on quite a bit. Not all of it, but nearly half. Crazy, right?
I weighed myself this morning at 223. Back in February 2010, I was 256. I got down to my lowest of 173, and balanced out at 185. That's still a 40 lb gain since September of 2010.
So here we go again. I didn't know what women were talking about when they talked about "yo-yo" dieting. I seriously never thought it would sneak back on so fast.
But, the good new is, I have my focus back. This weight gain was a speed-bump... just a little something to slow me down. And I learned the hard way what it's going to take to keep it off.
Since August of 2011, I've been back in the gym 4-5 days a week. I do 30-40 minutes on the treadmill, and most days I make the rounds on all the weight machines, too. But now that the holidays are over, I can focus once again on my calorie intake.
When I started this healthy eating almost two years ago, I dropped it fast. I think I can do the same thing this time around. The difference now is that I have a new respect for the women that have kept it off for a long period of time. This time, the challenge won't be so much the loss of the weight, although it won't be easy. The challenge this time will be to find what will help me keep it off for good.
I have the eating part under control. I know my will power is tested everyday regarding that. But the lifestyle change, including basic daily activity, is going to have to be stepped up in order to maintain it easier, without feeling like I'm on a diet for the rest of my life. Maybe the hour at the gym 4 days a week isn't enough.
For the next few months, while I RE-lose what I had previously lost, I'm going to be searching for something I like to do that is good for me. I've been looking into hiking clubs, and Lord knows, Boise has plenty of hiking trails. Everything from flat land, to inclines that would make a mountain goat nervous! I have quite a bit of time in the mornings still, thanks to my job, and I'm thinking that something outdoors will keep my interest. I might even become one of those hiking-obsessed women, with matching socks and hats for every day of the week! :-)