Starting Over Again

Thanks for the encouragement, 20to10. I am one of those folks who cannot lose one ounce if I don't exercise, no matter how little I eat. On the other hand, if I exercise a lot I can lose weight and still eat a lot of calories. I guess it is a blessing and a curse!!

I am really tired tonight, so I just did 30 minutes on the bike. If I can do at least 30 minutes 6 days a week and bump it up to an hour + for 3-4 days I think I can lose the weight without getting burned out. I really, really want to get to 185 by July 4th. That's pretty ambitious, so I have to stay on top of this.

10 pounds down. 50 to go...
 
Still at the 10 pounds point. No real weight loss this week, although I have worked out and eaten sensibly. I guess it is just one of those weeks, and I expect that one day the pounds will just disappear. We have snow and ice now, so my only workout option for the next few days will be inside. I miss taking long walks, but it is just too cold and too icy.

Today I am cooking vegetable soup and some beans, which I will eat next week. Lots and lots of fiber with not too many calories! Since it is so cold, soup and a sandwich will be a good lunch/dinner for next week. I also think I am going to try to find a good workout video for those days when the weather is bad and I don't feel like riding the bike. I have never been a big fan of workout videos, but maybe I can find something that I can live with.

10 pounds down. 50 to go. I am right on track. Need to lose 10 pounds between now and March 1st.
 
One more pound gone - 11 pounds down, 49 to go. I have lost a couple of inches on my waist and can really tell a difference in my clothes. I am walking and/or biking 45-60 minutes a day and working out with light weights 3 times a week. I am also stretching about 15 minutes 3-4 days a week. I am not sure I have time for any further physical activity, but I can definitely refine the food a little. I am eating lots of veggies and fruit, but also still eating more carbs than I probably should. I think I need to work on that - more protein, less carbs.

I definitely need to hang onto this diary so I can remember how hard it was to lose this weight and HOPEFULLY motivate myself not to ever, ever gain it back after working so hard to get it off!!

11 pounds down... 49 to go. 9 more pounds by March 1st...
 
Sounds like your kicking some butt! I was having trouble getting protein when I started. Low fat cheese is a great snack ... or tuna ... or a hard-boiled egg. And they all fill me up way more than a 100 calorie granola bar or yogurt.
 
One more pound down - 12 lost, 48 to go....

I ate more protein today and definitely did not get hungry as quickly. Today's food intake was just right. I don't want to eat the same things every day, but I need to closely replicate the basic pattern of today's eating as much as I can.
I rode the stationary bike for almost an hour and then stretched for about 10 minutes and walked the dog for about a mile. All together, it was about an hour and 15 minutes. Not bad after a busy day at work, doing my taxes and my son's, one load of laundry, and odds and ends housework.

8 more pounds to go by March 1st...
 
Okay - I have exercised my butt off over the last week and not lost one single pound. My eating habits have not been outstanding, but they have not been bad. There is no way that I am eating as many calories as I am burning, but the scale is not budging. I am staying the course, but getting a little discouraged. I suspect that I am losing fat but replacing some of it with muscle since I am exercising so much. And I know that lifting weights is probably contributing to the lack of weight loss, but I enjoy getting stronger.

I am going to keep going as I have been. I know that I am getting healthier, but not losing weight SUCKS when you are working so hard!!!

Why is it so easy to gain weight and SOOOOOOO hard to lose it???

12 pounds down.... 48 to go....
 
Do you record your food daily? If you dont, it is hard to see what you are doing wrong or if your diet need few tweaking. Use fitday.com and see whether you get all your nutrients in.

Read your diary from the begining. You are inspiration. Keep at it.

Even if you are overweight, dont let opportunity pass you by. That is the story of my life. Been struggling with weight for over 15yrs. I dont go shopping, and professionally i am scared to go for promotions or apply more deserving jobs, but it really shouldnt.
 
Yeah, I second making sure your calories are what you really think they are. But I know what you're feeling (though I know why my scale isn't budging :))

I'm sure it'll drop sooner or later though if you keep it up. I've just been focusing on other fitness goals and I find that much more fun that stressing over the scale.
 
I am still at the same weight - about 12 pounds down, 48 to go. I think I am going to try eating less this week so I can cut back on the calories, but also maybe exercising a little less. Maybe shoot for 1500 calories and 30-45 minutes of exercise. I have no idea what the secret formula is, but if I eat 1500 calories and exercise much at all I don't feel like I have eaten enough. Then again, if I eat 1800 and exercise for an hour plus I am not losing any weight. I expected this to be more difficult since I am '40 something' now, but it just makes no sense. I'm a very mathematical person. There has to be some combination of calories and exercise that will work!!!

I also wonder how much my mood has to do with the weight loss. I have been very stressed for the last couple of weeks with my job, the kids, and my Mom's health issues. I wonder if that could be contributing to the lack of weight loss. If that's it, I'm screwed!! I can't quit my job, can't sell my kids (LOL), and my Mom is having hip replacement surgery in a few weeks so it will be at least 12 weeks before she is back on track.

I do think it will help when the weather warms up. It's a lot easier to get motivated to exercise outside when the temp is 60 instead of 30!!

Oh well, gotta keep going. I want to lose at least 3-4 pounds by the end of the month.

I MUST DO THIS. That extra 48 pounds is really holding me back from figuring out where I want to go with my life. I am stuck in the muck until I address this!!
 
I've heard from other posters that sleep and stress have really affected their weight loss. But if your mathematical inclined, it may be better to take five minutes and do some measurements. Then just throw out the scale and measure those every other week or so to track your progress. So many things go into your weight fluctuating up and down (muscle, sodium, sleep, alcohol, etc.) that you may feel better focusing on what really matters ... inches.

Anyways, I find it kind of fun tinkering with my goals to see what works for me and what doesn't. Hopefully you figure out what works!
 
Today I had an epiphany of sorts. I realized something in my life that is really holding me back from losing the weight and finding the real me trapped underneath the weight issues. Now I just need to find the courage to deal with it.

This is going to take some serious thought and soul searching. Am I ready to put my needs above the wants/needs of others in my life???????????????? Or do I continue to stuff my emotions back inside and always do what others expect?????????????

Stay tuned....
 
I have recently had a similar epiphany.

Will be interested to know which way you jump. Take your time and make the decision that is right for you.
 
I know what I need to do. I am in a toxic relationship that is not helping me achieve the things I need to achieve. I am settling for a lot less than I want, need, and deserve. I just really stink at doing things that hurt other people. Somewhere in my mind, I always manage to prioritize my needs lower than the needs of others. I am very intelligent in most respects, but I belong in the remedial class when it comes to relationships!!

How and when will I address this? Not sure. Need to give it some thought and convince myself that it is okay to do what is best for me even if it means hurting someone else in the process. That is kinda the story of my life. How do I change the script???
 
I FINALLY seem to have gotten past the plateau that I was on for the last couple of weeks. I am now 14 pounds down, 46 to go! Hopefully, I can keep the scale moving and not hit another wall for a while.

I am going to shoot for 1500-1800 calories a day and 45-60 minutes of exercise per day. I want to lose at least one more pound by the end of the month so I will be 25% of the way to my goal. If I can get below 200 by the end of June and to my goal of 185 by the end of August I will be thrilled.

I know I have other issues in my life that I need to address, but I need to keep going on the weight loss while I sort some of the other things out.
 
Overall it's been a good day. Ate lots of fruits and veggies. Drank lots of water. Did yard/garden work and walked the dog. It's been a gorgeous day here weather-wise, so it's been nice to get outside and enjoy the 60+ degrees!! I guess this is just a small taste of spring to break up the dreary winter weather, but I'll take days like this anytime I can get them!!

I am planning to get back on board with the eating and exercise routine tomorrow and kick some butt for the next 5 weeks. My birthday is coming up, and I would love to be in the 210-219 range by that point. That's at least 12 pounds - 12 pounds in 5-6 weeks. Doable?? We shall see....
 
Okay day. I was doing great until.... my son talked me into meeting him for lunch at 'The Pit' - not just barbecue, but the BEST barbecue in the country according to the Food Network. It was awesome, but I ate more than I should have. I had pulled pork, baked beans and collards. I skipped the hush puppies and drank water, which made me feel at least a little better. I did have a light dinner of veggie lasagna and a roll, so I didn't do too bad overall. I really have to work on my ability to keep it light when eating out. That is a major challenge for me. Then again, maybe I need to not eat out as much and that would both solve the overeating problem AND help my bank account.

14 pounds down, 46 to go. 2010 is the year that I am going to change my life and finally become the person I want to be...
 
Good day - not perfect but good. Lots of water, plenty of fiber and fruits/veggies. An hour plus of exercise - 30 minutes on the exercise bike, two 20 minute walks, and some light weights. Work is pretty stressful right now, so taking a walk this afternoon was a good break. As long as the weather holds out, I think I will try to do that every day. We have great walking trails at my office. I saw a red-tailed hawk down by the creek on my walk today. I just love being outside!

I am not going to weigh again until March 1st. Hoping for a 1-2 pound loss this week...
 
Another pretty good day. I had raisin bran and a banana for breakfast. Cheese stick for a morning snack. I went to lunch at Bahama Breeze and wanted seafood chowder SOOOOOO bad, but I took the high road and had black bean chili instead. The seafood chowder would have tasted so much better, but it certainly wouldn't have been worth all the fat and sodium!! For dinner I had a little pork loin and rice with veggies. Not a bad day foodwise. My only exercise for the day was a 20 minute walk, some stretching and some light weights. It's been a rainy nasty day here, and I decided to make this one of my light exercise days.

I've talked about it before, but this weekend I am going to buy myself two workout videos for rainy days like this when I just want to do something different. I'm not sure anyone is actually reading my diary, but if you are and you have any suggestions I would love to hear them.

I also decided today that I am going to treat myself to some new clothes when I hit 15 pounds. Nothing extravagant, maybe just a couple pair of jeans and a sweater or two. I think I can safely fit into one size smaller at this point.

Just think - next year at this time, I will be at my goal weight and (hopefully) not obsessing over everything I eat and every bit of exercise. I can hardly wait to get to the point where weight is not an issue in my life...
 
Sounds like your doing a fantastic job ! Just wanted to let u know I thought so and I cant wait to read more :) Keep up the great work !! :)
 
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