Amber's Pursuit: Time to do it for ME.

AmbaLove

AmbaLove

New member
Well, I am back. I've been gone awhile and sporadic for awhile before that.

The good news is, I've maintained pretty well since I've been gone. The bad news is, I've not been losing or making much effort to do so.

It may seem like I am back for the whole "New years" thing, but I'm not. It's actually a Christmas card from Bikinibound that spurred me to jump back in the ring.

Last time I started trying to lose for a lot of reasons, and only a slim portion of those reasons had anything to do with me. I think that is why I eventually stalled out.

This time, its for me. I want to build habits and I know it may be slow. That's ok.

There is more to come, but right now, my husband needs help with something.
 
Well, here's some of the deal with me right now...

My dietitian (Tanya), who I adored had up and quit the office where I went, and I never did click with her replacement (Tami). So...bad Amber kind of just ...quit going.

My gym raised their rates, well not really, they just stopped contracting with my school district to give teachers better rates. I could not afford the $89 a month and had to give up my membership. )I am still doing some yoga, but not each day like I was.)

Around October, I was informed that I had to start picking up another special ed. teachers paperwork, because she couldn't handle it. That was on top of my own paperwork, teaching, planning, etc. It was also on top of being told I would be leading the teacher support team, tutoring struggling readers after school once a week, trying to get my whole faculty study group hours done, implementing CQI and trying to have a life outside of school.

In other words, I had to drop something. I dropped me.

That was a mistake. And I know it now.

So, I am back to fix my mistake.

For now, I cannot go to a dietitian or a gym...but I can exercise and I can have accountability.

I'll be posting my morning weight (for simplicity I will be using my home scale, which I know from the past runs about 4-5 lbs higher than my true weight. I will still just post what it says, because a pound down is a pound down no matter what its down from.) I'll also post exercise and food (I've never been a food poster...or for that matter a calorie counter, but I think it will really help me to start that. I've always just measured in ounces/cups, but never done calories unless it was for one of Kimberly's challenges.)

And, me being me, there will probably be a lot of non-weight loss related posts also.
 
I've decided to have VERY SMALL goals for myself along the way. Ones I know I can meet and celebrate. I don't want to be unrealistic and disappoint myself and get discouraged. I have a genuine problem losing weight. Between my liver condition, insulin resistance and endocrine dysfunction, it is hard to do. Hard. Not impossible. And it has to stop being an excuse. NOW.

My current goal is to lose 10 lbs by my birthday (2-18). January 2nd to February 18 is 6 weeks and 5 days. That means I need to lose less than a pound and a half a week to meet my goal. That's a good goal, and I truly think I can reach it.

I plan to do yoga a minimum of 4 days per week (optimally I would like to do it daily, but I know my life is busy and once I miss one I make excuses to miss more. 4 out of 7 gives me no room for excuses), and also another form of exercise at least 2 days a week, whether it is taking a walk, hiking the nature trails, tae bo or isometric exercises. (This does not mean exercising 6 days a week, sometimes I will certainly do yoga and something else, too.)

I also want to keep my calories between 1450-1600 a day.
 
January 1st update:

Weight: I did not weight this morning, I will start this part tomorrow.

Exercise: 20 minutes walking.

Food: (I will list what I ate, but I was not tracking calories today, that will also start tomorrow.)

2 pieces honey wheat toast, 1 wedge laughing cow light original, 2 eggs (fried with canola spray, not oil)

Homemade sausage, bell pepper, onion, black olive and mushroom calzone. (Good and yummy...not good on the size of the tummy...)
16 oz. water
2 homemade caramels (a christmas gift, but they are gone now)

16 oz. dr. pepper (soda is another thing I really need to kick)
hamburger with cheese, onion and ketchup

16 oz. water

10 oz. hot cocoa
 
1-2-09 Update (This will be updated throughout the day)

Weight: 235 (although I forgot to do this until after I had eaten the turkey, cheese and wasa, so its a bit off.)

Exercise: 20 minutes yoga

Food:
4 oz cracked pepper turkey breast 120 cals
2 wedges laughing cow light original 70 cals
2 multigrain wasa crisps 90 cals
2 oz peanuts 320 cals
1/2 cup multigrain pasta 210 cals
1/2 cup chunky marinara 90 cals
4 oz. extra lean beef 160 cals
1 cup green beans 40 cals
5 hershey kisses 150 cals
dr. pepper 300 cals
48 oz water 0 cals

Total: 1550 cals
 
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Hi!

I know what you mean by needing to lose something and that something ends up being yourself. I lost 15kg (about 35lbs) two years ago...then I started my job as a principal, while still teaching 3 days a week as well, with two kids (5 and 6) and everything else that life entails I ended off dropping myself as a priority. Now I'm back...no more excuses, I can find time if I need to.
Best of luck with your journey!
 
Hey there Amber, glad to see you back :). Your plans sound great, I have similar ones.. Calorie counting/regular exercise. A dam pain in the butt! But what can we do but blow up ever more?! LOL We got this woman, this has GOTTA be our year to reach our weight loss goals and dreams. Good job so far!
 
Claudia, I truly admire you for sticking to it. I know how hard it is to make good choices when the scale isn't rewarding you for them.
 
:waving:Welcome back, lady! and a Happy New Year to you! I get the feeling that 2009 is going to be a very important year for you...because it sounds like YOU GET IT. And when you get it, your life starts to change!:biggrinjester:

Best wishes on your continued/renewed journey. I like your plans, they sound healthy.

Blessings
ABBA
 
1-3-08

Weight: 234.5

Exercise: none

Food:
Chick-fil-a breakfast burrito 460 cals
48 oz water 0 cals
samples of the social suppers menu....??? cals (I had one bit of lasagna wrap, 2 bites of chicken bacon ranch wrap, 2 bites blueberry buckle, 1 bite lemon chicken, and 2 bites pork quesadilla.)
1/2 cup multigrain pasta 210 cals
1/2 cup chunky marinara 90 cals
4 oz. extra lean beef 160 cals
Sonic Limeade 320 cals
Cheese, crackers and ham 360 cals

Total: 1600 cals
 
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My kitty is very sick. I just spent $95.00 at the vet and am hoping he gets better. he has the feline equivelent of shingles. His fur is falling out in clumps and he is getting lesions. he's also in a lot of pain. Poor baby cat.
 
1-4-08

Weight:234.5

Exercise:none

Food:
2 oz cracked pepper turkey breast 60 cals
2 wedges laughing cow light original 70 cals
1 multigrain wasa crisp 45 cals
48 oz water 0 cals
6 oz petite roast. 373 cals
broccoli. 60 cals
celery with pb. 224 cals
turtle coffee frappé. 350 cals



My calories came in a bit low today but I was trying to save cals for coffee at my friends b-day at the coffee house. Plus I was a bit over yesterday so it evens out.

Total: 1232 calories
 
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I am still here, I am still keeping my food journal and doing the right things. But, my husband has actually been home every night this week and I have not wanted to spend a ton of time on the computer instead of with him! On Monday, he goes back to only being home 2 nights a week. I'll post more then, I promise!
 
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