I will try this again..wrote a big long post this morning...then lost it...hate it when that happens! I'll try again!
Hello MaryannC and thanks for stopping my my diary and saying such nice things! Looking at your note, it looks like we started our journey at about the same place weight-wise...I just started my journey at a different time...trust me..it's a journey, not a race...I've had to remind myself of that several times over the past 14+ months. You mentioned you were going to listen to fat2fitradio podcasts...they are really good for me. I started listening to them about 5 months ago and they have really helped me...I started at their 1st podcast and I'm up to episode 130 now..only 10 more to go unfortunately since one of them is sick, according to their website. I listen to them when I do my walking or elliptical workouts to give me good continued motivation. I didn't start out that way however...and looking back at it, it doesn't do any good to wish the contrary, but I will tell you how I started... I followed these 5 simple rules (simple, but not easy!)
1) No eating after 6:00pm (and yes, that meant that sometimes I didn't eat after my noon meal, or snack because I didn't get home from work)..In hindsight, this was probably not the best rule for my metabolism...probably too close to starvation for my own good, and I have since abandonned this one)...but my biggest meal of the day is breakfast (typically over 60 cal with some chinese veggies, a meat, 2 fried eggs and some fresh fruit like watermellon or pineapple, or whatever is in season here) Dinner is my smallest meal, typically around 300 cals and I drink alot of water and hot green tea (which I've aqcuired a taste for since living here in China)
2) No soft drinks (not diet, not regular) I still follow this one...I'm just convinced this stuff is bad for me!
3) Low carbs (not no carbs obviously with the fruits and veggies I eat), Still follow this one, with the exception that I 've added rice to my diet for lunch. I do tend to stay away from pasta, potatoes, breads and other really starchy foods..
4) No processed sugars or processed desserts. I still follow this one...even at the beginning, I still ate some fresh fruits.
5) Exercise every day for 45-60 minutes, no matter what. I still do this too. I started very slowly by walking on a flat treadmill at a slow pace, then worked my way up to increasing the incline, pace and then eventually moved to elliptical and stepper and now actually running...I'm convinced, my body adjusts to whatever I do for a routine, so I have to keep switching it up!
All during the 1st 9 months, I did not count calories and I didn't weigh but once a month. (I don't like bad news, so I made sure there was always progress by waiting a month!) Starting after about 4 months, I started doing body measurements and tracking progress that way. I just got a new % bodyfat scale and I weigh more often (once per week officially...but now that new scale just calls out to me when I pass the bathroom and sometimes I step on. I know there are daily fluctuations and I'm OK with that now, but at the beginning, I'm thinking I would have been demoralized to see it go up!
So, enough about my past...now onto today!
Started the day with my husband (who has gotten over his grumpyness...Thanks God!) and we went out to the park and did a 45 min brisk walk, followed by a 30 min run...nice run and felt good to breath some fresh air and move my bones! Then I came back and had a shower, BM and then I stepped on the scale...not an official weigh in because I jknow any weight lost during exercise is only water weight and will come back...but...it was nice to see 180.4...almost breaking through the 180 mark...again! Pretty happy with that even though I know the next time I weigh, it will likely go up...I take good news when I can get it!
I took measurements this morning before the run and, while they didn't move as much as I thought, they have moved some in the right direction...for some reason hips and waist stayed the same and I continue to lose it in my boobs (and if my rings are any indication, my fingers!)..
Speaking of measurements, I took some slacks down to the tailors last week and went down today and picked them up..they fit great! So even if none of my measurements were good, and the number on the scale isn't moving...the clothes are changing...and that is motivational for me!! I'll post a pic when I wear some of my redone duds to work this week.
So, I've written about all I know how...and going to post this before I lose it again!
Good choices to all!!
Sarah