Why didn't anyone tell me I could trade fudge for an Eddie Bauer down vest in a regular size?
This past weekend we went "up North" to celebrate our wedding anniversary. We've been going to this spot for more than 16 years and the trip always includes a little penny candy/general store. This year we bought the kids each a bag of candy but we didn't even consider the fudge, gouda dip, chocolate covered pretzels, grape soda, etc. that we would have normally gotten. This is what I did get:
1. A new down vest in a regular size
2. A new coat and boots for snowshoeing so I can keep active this winter
3. Spur of the moment hikes where I barely lost my breath going up inclines that felt like death last year
I'm not saying I'll never eat a piece of fudge again. I know I will. But right now my goals are more important. I even got a Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate but decided not to drink it when I checked the calorie content (400+ for a TALL!!) Hubby took one for the team and gave me his nonfat Cappuccino. I used to think that my traditions would be meaningless without the food - but that is just not true. We had a great time without the old habits turning it into a setback.
I'm not perfect - although I made a great entree choice at dinner I ate a few too many bites of my son's butternut squash at our favorite restaurant and I know it had butter and brown sugar in it, I also had a few crackers and slices of cheese. I was annoyed with when I added it to my calorie total for the day because it was so not worth it.
With Thanksgiving coming I'm going to have to make some serious decisions about what traditions are "worth it". With this weekend under my belt I am convinced that my old habits are dead or dying and I'm so grateful.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Weekly Update - Week 19
(end of week 18/beginning week 19)
On the Scale
Lost this week: 2.4 since Tuesday (4 since Monday)
Total loss: 52
I have two weights because last week my Monday weigh-in and my Tuesday weigh-in were dramatically different. Obviously there was some water retention or something on Monday. This week I was away for the weekend so I weighed in on Tuesday - since this is the day to record my weight on my Bodybugg this will be my new weekly weigh-in.
I'm super happy with this weigh-in. We went away for the weekend and ate out for dinners so I was a little nervous - even though we had healthy choices. Knowing I ate in a way that I can live with long term, and having results like this is very encouraging!
In my Kitchen
I love fall cooking. I have been using my crock-pot and making stews and sauces. This weekend we went away and I seriously missed my kitchen. Today is my Monday so I'll be working on my meal plan later.
In my Closet
It's so nice to like clothes again. My clothes keep getting looser and I keep being surprised by fitting into things I didn't think I could. I have a friend who lost some weight in the past couple of years and she has been giving me some of her old clothes. Now, this lady LOVES clothes and she worked at Banana Republic - so she's giving me some nice stuff. I feel like it was only a week or two ago that I was jumping for joy at shopping in the "regular" section - now I'm able to wear sweaters from one of my favorite stores - XL and even a few L - My new jeans now look silly because they are so baggy. I still have a long way to go but I like I look a little bit more on the outside the way I feel on the inside - and that is alot of fun.
At the Gym
I've tried to step it up a little bit in my workouts. A little more incline on the treadmill, pushing it at a higher level on the eliptical, stuff like that. I feel good. Last night we went to dinner and then my youngest son and I ran across the plaza parking lot to a store - I jogged the whole way and actually felt awesome. In the past that would have been horrible. Now little things like that energize me. We've also been going for walks around my really hilly neighborhood at night to squeeze in some activity.
Goals and Challenges
I reached and passed a big goal this week - 50 lbs. I don't know for sure what my final goal weight is but my first long-term goal is 100 lbs. and I'm half way there. My next goal is to be under 200 lbs. by Christmas.
On the Scale
Lost this week: 2.4 since Tuesday (4 since Monday)
Total loss: 52
I have two weights because last week my Monday weigh-in and my Tuesday weigh-in were dramatically different. Obviously there was some water retention or something on Monday. This week I was away for the weekend so I weighed in on Tuesday - since this is the day to record my weight on my Bodybugg this will be my new weekly weigh-in.
I'm super happy with this weigh-in. We went away for the weekend and ate out for dinners so I was a little nervous - even though we had healthy choices. Knowing I ate in a way that I can live with long term, and having results like this is very encouraging!
In my Kitchen
I love fall cooking. I have been using my crock-pot and making stews and sauces. This weekend we went away and I seriously missed my kitchen. Today is my Monday so I'll be working on my meal plan later.
In my Closet
It's so nice to like clothes again. My clothes keep getting looser and I keep being surprised by fitting into things I didn't think I could. I have a friend who lost some weight in the past couple of years and she has been giving me some of her old clothes. Now, this lady LOVES clothes and she worked at Banana Republic - so she's giving me some nice stuff. I feel like it was only a week or two ago that I was jumping for joy at shopping in the "regular" section - now I'm able to wear sweaters from one of my favorite stores - XL and even a few L - My new jeans now look silly because they are so baggy. I still have a long way to go but I like I look a little bit more on the outside the way I feel on the inside - and that is alot of fun.
At the Gym
I've tried to step it up a little bit in my workouts. A little more incline on the treadmill, pushing it at a higher level on the eliptical, stuff like that. I feel good. Last night we went to dinner and then my youngest son and I ran across the plaza parking lot to a store - I jogged the whole way and actually felt awesome. In the past that would have been horrible. Now little things like that energize me. We've also been going for walks around my really hilly neighborhood at night to squeeze in some activity.
Goals and Challenges
I reached and passed a big goal this week - 50 lbs. I don't know for sure what my final goal weight is but my first long-term goal is 100 lbs. and I'm half way there. My next goal is to be under 200 lbs. by Christmas.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Bodybugg update
So this is a little update after one week of using my Bodybugg. I really like it. It's motivated me to log my food every day which I rarely did before. Today I updated my weight and got to see all the goals and results pages update. Fun stuff. The program compares your actual results based on weight loss compared to the results you would have gotten if you had logged accurately.
One trend I see is that it looks like I over-estimate some of my calories - which I knew. I'd rather err on the side of caution so when I eat a yogurt, for example, if it's a flavored, fruit-on-the-bottom kind I usually don't eat the fruit but I count the whole thing. I usually round up not down when I'm not exactly sure of my portion size. So I lost a tad more than I "should have" based on my food log. This could be a water weight thing - time will tell if this is a trend or a fluke. The program says that most people under-estimate. So it's a great reality check if you tend to do that.
PROS:
It's an awesome accountability tool. It encourages me to log my food daily - something I've never done regularly. It's fun to update my calories burned and see what each activity actually accomplishes. It makes me try to squeeze in extra activity whenever I can. I'm more likely to say "hey let's go for a walk after dinner" if I can see an actual graph of how that will benefit me. It takes the guess work out of deciding if I can "afford" to eat something and still reach my goal. I've actually eaten more this week because I had more confidence that I was doing the right thing. It's allowing me a new level of control over my progress. If I don't wear it for a period of time it knows it and asks me to put in my activity for that time period - giving me an option to say "I burned the same as ... yesterday", etc. It's not uncomfortable to wear.
CONS:
The food database seems limited. I frequently have to put in my own nutritional information. Not a huge deal but I wish it were more comprehensive. The armband is low profile but not invisible. I have to think about what I'm going to wear in public.
Overall I am really enjoying it and it's breathed new life into my motivation - but it's pricey. DH surprised me with it and called it an anniversary present. He has since said it's not my real present. In reality he did it because he knows how important it is for me to succeed this time and every bit of help helps. We have been doing this together and he is already pretty much at his goal. He's lost about 50 lbs and looks and feels amazing. But from the outset we knew he would have to stick with me until I am in the maintenance phase as well. He is giving himself a little more freedom with portion size but we're still eating the same things. This is one way for him to provide me with support and he loves to do that. For him the reward is a healthy and happy wife - worth the cost I think :)
It cost $165 and that includes 6 months free subscription to the online service. If you have the $ in your budget and you are motivated by seeing real time results I think it's a good idea. It's as much a toy as a tool but it's helping me keep my focus and that's a good thing because I still have a long way to go.
One trend I see is that it looks like I over-estimate some of my calories - which I knew. I'd rather err on the side of caution so when I eat a yogurt, for example, if it's a flavored, fruit-on-the-bottom kind I usually don't eat the fruit but I count the whole thing. I usually round up not down when I'm not exactly sure of my portion size. So I lost a tad more than I "should have" based on my food log. This could be a water weight thing - time will tell if this is a trend or a fluke. The program says that most people under-estimate. So it's a great reality check if you tend to do that.
PROS:
It's an awesome accountability tool. It encourages me to log my food daily - something I've never done regularly. It's fun to update my calories burned and see what each activity actually accomplishes. It makes me try to squeeze in extra activity whenever I can. I'm more likely to say "hey let's go for a walk after dinner" if I can see an actual graph of how that will benefit me. It takes the guess work out of deciding if I can "afford" to eat something and still reach my goal. I've actually eaten more this week because I had more confidence that I was doing the right thing. It's allowing me a new level of control over my progress. If I don't wear it for a period of time it knows it and asks me to put in my activity for that time period - giving me an option to say "I burned the same as ... yesterday", etc. It's not uncomfortable to wear.
CONS:
The food database seems limited. I frequently have to put in my own nutritional information. Not a huge deal but I wish it were more comprehensive. The armband is low profile but not invisible. I have to think about what I'm going to wear in public.
Overall I am really enjoying it and it's breathed new life into my motivation - but it's pricey. DH surprised me with it and called it an anniversary present. He has since said it's not my real present. In reality he did it because he knows how important it is for me to succeed this time and every bit of help helps. We have been doing this together and he is already pretty much at his goal. He's lost about 50 lbs and looks and feels amazing. But from the outset we knew he would have to stick with me until I am in the maintenance phase as well. He is giving himself a little more freedom with portion size but we're still eating the same things. This is one way for him to provide me with support and he loves to do that. For him the reward is a healthy and happy wife - worth the cost I think :)
It cost $165 and that includes 6 months free subscription to the online service. If you have the $ in your budget and you are motivated by seeing real time results I think it's a good idea. It's as much a toy as a tool but it's helping me keep my focus and that's a good thing because I still have a long way to go.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Weekly Update - Week 18
(end of week 17/beginning week 18)
On the Scale
Lost this week: 2.2
Total loss: 48
That's better. I was afraid I had hit a plateau but after a little research I realized I just hit a failure to accurately calculate the calorie content of Sushi :) I won't make that mistake again.
I have a 2nd weigh in tomorrow for my Bodybugg. I started wearing it last Tuesday and the program is limited in that way - I couldn't manipulate it to coincide with my Monday weigh-in. Since I weigh myself every day it's not a big deal. I will just record my Monday weight the way I always have and then my Tuesday weight on the Bodybugg site.
In the Kitchen
This week was a little more exciting in the kitchen. I made a few new dishes and made the transition into fall cooking. I'm going to do a new meal plan this week and hopefully have a some fun with new recipes.
In the Closet
Yesterday I wore a skirt I haven't worn in years. I've had it for so long that it's back in style. I am also excited to report that I wore tights I picked up at the grocery store. I know, you're wondering why that is such an accomplishment. I haven't worn nylons/pantyhose in 10 years or more. I left corporate America in 2000 to work in ministry at my church and then I got pregnant and lived happily ever after in Mommy land. I wear flip-flops from April through November. Even times in that span where I've had to dress more formal I got by without wearing pantyhose (that word seems so strange to me because I never say it). As I gained weight in that time I occassionally would consider buying some but I had entered the plus size domain and that was so intimidating to me for some reason. So I went without them for 10 years. So anyway, the skirt I pulled out of the recesses of my drawer just begged for tights which I didn't have. So on a late night trip to the grocery store to pick up some essentials I grabbed a pair of black tights and they FIT!
My "new" jeans are getting baggy. Life is good. I'm going to try to resist the urge to buy clothes in this size because I think I can get by with what I have until I go down one more. Maybe I'll check out a consignment shop. I've never done that for my own clothes but this may be the time. I'm wearing my engagement ring. I was going to wait until my anniversary on Saturday but I am not patient like that.
At the Gym
Recently I got a newsletter from JillianMichaels.com and it said something like "if you think your workout is too easy, it probably is." That's where I am right now. I'm doing pretty much the same routine I've been doing all this time. I've stepped it up on the cardio a little. In 18 weeks I've gone from 3 mph/0 incline on the treadmill to 3.5 mph/1.5 incline and increased my overall cardio to 45 minutes. The last 15 minutes of that is usualy on a bike but I realized last night that I was hardly breaking a sweat on the bike. And my weight routine was not really a challenge.
I'm comfortable with what I'm doing but I know that "comfortable" is not the key word you want to describe an exercise routine if you want results. I've played around with 30 Day Shred, Weight Loss Yoga, C25K, etc. but mostly I've just stuck my comfortable little gym routine. As I'm typing this I don't really know if I have it in me to really challenge myself. Hmph. I'll have to think about this some more.
Goals and Challenges
This coming weekend is my Anniversary. We're going "up north" for a couple of days. I'm not really worried because it's not exactly an eating destination and we'll have alot of physical activity but I won't be able to cook. I have figured out a few places around here where we can eat out and still eat healthy but up there I'm not sure. We'll have to bring some food. I really want to stay disciplined this week because I will probably hit my 50 lb "half way to 100" goal if I do. I'd also love to work out at the hotel - that is something I've never even thought about doing.
One thing I'm enjoying about the Bodybugg is that I have the ability to look at the week as a whole. It averages out my calorie deficit so I can make adjustments throughout the week. That gives me a little more control.
So goals:
Eat right everyday
Drink my water every day
Figure out how to set up my workouts
Happy Monday!
On the Scale
Lost this week: 2.2
Total loss: 48
That's better. I was afraid I had hit a plateau but after a little research I realized I just hit a failure to accurately calculate the calorie content of Sushi :) I won't make that mistake again.
I have a 2nd weigh in tomorrow for my Bodybugg. I started wearing it last Tuesday and the program is limited in that way - I couldn't manipulate it to coincide with my Monday weigh-in. Since I weigh myself every day it's not a big deal. I will just record my Monday weight the way I always have and then my Tuesday weight on the Bodybugg site.
In the Kitchen
This week was a little more exciting in the kitchen. I made a few new dishes and made the transition into fall cooking. I'm going to do a new meal plan this week and hopefully have a some fun with new recipes.
In the Closet
Yesterday I wore a skirt I haven't worn in years. I've had it for so long that it's back in style. I am also excited to report that I wore tights I picked up at the grocery store. I know, you're wondering why that is such an accomplishment. I haven't worn nylons/pantyhose in 10 years or more. I left corporate America in 2000 to work in ministry at my church and then I got pregnant and lived happily ever after in Mommy land. I wear flip-flops from April through November. Even times in that span where I've had to dress more formal I got by without wearing pantyhose (that word seems so strange to me because I never say it). As I gained weight in that time I occassionally would consider buying some but I had entered the plus size domain and that was so intimidating to me for some reason. So I went without them for 10 years. So anyway, the skirt I pulled out of the recesses of my drawer just begged for tights which I didn't have. So on a late night trip to the grocery store to pick up some essentials I grabbed a pair of black tights and they FIT!
My "new" jeans are getting baggy. Life is good. I'm going to try to resist the urge to buy clothes in this size because I think I can get by with what I have until I go down one more. Maybe I'll check out a consignment shop. I've never done that for my own clothes but this may be the time. I'm wearing my engagement ring. I was going to wait until my anniversary on Saturday but I am not patient like that.
At the Gym
Recently I got a newsletter from JillianMichaels.com and it said something like "if you think your workout is too easy, it probably is." That's where I am right now. I'm doing pretty much the same routine I've been doing all this time. I've stepped it up on the cardio a little. In 18 weeks I've gone from 3 mph/0 incline on the treadmill to 3.5 mph/1.5 incline and increased my overall cardio to 45 minutes. The last 15 minutes of that is usualy on a bike but I realized last night that I was hardly breaking a sweat on the bike. And my weight routine was not really a challenge.
I'm comfortable with what I'm doing but I know that "comfortable" is not the key word you want to describe an exercise routine if you want results. I've played around with 30 Day Shred, Weight Loss Yoga, C25K, etc. but mostly I've just stuck my comfortable little gym routine. As I'm typing this I don't really know if I have it in me to really challenge myself. Hmph. I'll have to think about this some more.
Goals and Challenges
This coming weekend is my Anniversary. We're going "up north" for a couple of days. I'm not really worried because it's not exactly an eating destination and we'll have alot of physical activity but I won't be able to cook. I have figured out a few places around here where we can eat out and still eat healthy but up there I'm not sure. We'll have to bring some food. I really want to stay disciplined this week because I will probably hit my 50 lb "half way to 100" goal if I do. I'd also love to work out at the hotel - that is something I've never even thought about doing.
One thing I'm enjoying about the Bodybugg is that I have the ability to look at the week as a whole. It averages out my calorie deficit so I can make adjustments throughout the week. That gives me a little more control.
So goals:
Eat right everyday
Drink my water every day
Figure out how to set up my workouts
Happy Monday!
Monday, October 11, 2010
Weekly Update - Week 17
(end of week 16/beginning week 17)
On the Scale
Lost this week: 1
Total loss: 45.8
I can't pretend I'm not discouraged by the small loss. But I can't pretend I'm surprised either. This was the week of the birthday cake. The day after my son's birthday we had dinner at the home of an older couple from church. The dinner was relatively healthy but heavier than I should have had following the birthday cake. Saturday we went to our favorite apple picking, pumpkin picking-out, hay maze, apple cider donut eating place. DH and I had 1 donut which is a great improvement from the 4 or 5 we would have had in the past. But again, that maintenence talk - not "still have a lot of weight to lose" talk. And definitly not "I had birthday cake and pizza this week" talk. I am glad to see the fruit of my labor in my clothes, in the mirror, in my fitness level and in my habits but I also really want to meet my goals.
DH ordered me a Body Bugg and it will be here mid-week. I am really excited - I think it will be a nice motivator.
My goals for this week are simple:
Eat the way I know I should
Drink my water
Challenge myself with my workouts
My anniversary weekend is coming up. About ten years ago I lost 60 lbs and had my engagement ring sized. After I gained weight I had to stop wearing it - but it fits again. I tiny bit snug compared to my wiggly wedding band (which I did not have sized back then). Anyway, I would like to start wearing it again on my anniversary.
Have a great week everyone!
On the Scale
Lost this week: 1
Total loss: 45.8
I can't pretend I'm not discouraged by the small loss. But I can't pretend I'm surprised either. This was the week of the birthday cake. The day after my son's birthday we had dinner at the home of an older couple from church. The dinner was relatively healthy but heavier than I should have had following the birthday cake. Saturday we went to our favorite apple picking, pumpkin picking-out, hay maze, apple cider donut eating place. DH and I had 1 donut which is a great improvement from the 4 or 5 we would have had in the past. But again, that maintenence talk - not "still have a lot of weight to lose" talk. And definitly not "I had birthday cake and pizza this week" talk. I am glad to see the fruit of my labor in my clothes, in the mirror, in my fitness level and in my habits but I also really want to meet my goals.
DH ordered me a Body Bugg and it will be here mid-week. I am really excited - I think it will be a nice motivator.
My goals for this week are simple:
Eat the way I know I should
Drink my water
Challenge myself with my workouts
My anniversary weekend is coming up. About ten years ago I lost 60 lbs and had my engagement ring sized. After I gained weight I had to stop wearing it - but it fits again. I tiny bit snug compared to my wiggly wedding band (which I did not have sized back then). Anyway, I would like to start wearing it again on my anniversary.
Have a great week everyone!
Monday, October 4, 2010
Weekly Update
(end of week 15/beginning week 16)
On the Scale
Lost this week: 2.4
Total loss: 44.8
Not bad. I've been cringing at the thought of this weigh-in because I've just felt plateau-ish all week. But I guess this isn't one. When I'm not losing at least 2 a week I feel anxious and insecure all week that what I'm doing isn't working and I'm wasting time. When it's working I feel like I can just relax and do what I do. Does that make me a slave to the scale? Maybe. But because I am not even half way to my goal I need a way to measure and I need to see that this day in and day out lifestyle is "working". Getting the approval of the scale boosts my confidence and motivates me for the week to come.
In the Closet
It's been fun to get dressed lately. It's nice to know that I am solidly in a smaller size and it's only going to get better from here. I bought a cute little sweater on clearance the other day and it's actually an XXL instead of a Plus size 1 or 2... it's amazing how much better I look in clothes that fit.
At the Gym
Not the best week because we had a busy day Saturday which is normally a gym day. But I did 40 minutes on the bike at home and then we went hiking. I'm looking forward to working out this week. DH bought me some boxing stuff a week or two ago and I haven't gotten to try it yet. Maybe today.
In the Kitchen
Still in a bit of a rut. I hope I'll be able to spend some time looking for new recipes this week. We've been eating out way too much - but it's been all healthy choices and that's a good learning experience.
Goals and Challenges
Looking forward to a good week. My son's 9th birthday is Wednesday so that means he gets to choose dinner and there will be cake and ice cream to contend with. As long as he doesn't want to go out to a mexican restaurant I think I can easily handle whatever he chooses. I honestly don't know if I can figure out a really healthy choice at the mexican place we go to. Any suggestions?
Have a great week!
On the Scale
Lost this week: 2.4
Total loss: 44.8
Not bad. I've been cringing at the thought of this weigh-in because I've just felt plateau-ish all week. But I guess this isn't one. When I'm not losing at least 2 a week I feel anxious and insecure all week that what I'm doing isn't working and I'm wasting time. When it's working I feel like I can just relax and do what I do. Does that make me a slave to the scale? Maybe. But because I am not even half way to my goal I need a way to measure and I need to see that this day in and day out lifestyle is "working". Getting the approval of the scale boosts my confidence and motivates me for the week to come.
In the Closet
It's been fun to get dressed lately. It's nice to know that I am solidly in a smaller size and it's only going to get better from here. I bought a cute little sweater on clearance the other day and it's actually an XXL instead of a Plus size 1 or 2... it's amazing how much better I look in clothes that fit.
At the Gym
Not the best week because we had a busy day Saturday which is normally a gym day. But I did 40 minutes on the bike at home and then we went hiking. I'm looking forward to working out this week. DH bought me some boxing stuff a week or two ago and I haven't gotten to try it yet. Maybe today.
In the Kitchen
Still in a bit of a rut. I hope I'll be able to spend some time looking for new recipes this week. We've been eating out way too much - but it's been all healthy choices and that's a good learning experience.
Goals and Challenges
Looking forward to a good week. My son's 9th birthday is Wednesday so that means he gets to choose dinner and there will be cake and ice cream to contend with. As long as he doesn't want to go out to a mexican restaurant I think I can easily handle whatever he chooses. I honestly don't know if I can figure out a really healthy choice at the mexican place we go to. Any suggestions?
Have a great week!
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