Timezup.... Finally, My Diary

[timezup]

I guess I put off starting my diary because I didn't want to feel too accountable. Kinda like if I feel like doing this I will, if not... oh well. Now I do want to be accountable, because this has gone on too long, so here goes.

I'm starting at about 167 lbs., down from my most recent high of 179 last July. I'm 5'7 and I'd love to be about 135-140 but will see how things look and feel when I get close. (My all-time high was 230-something in my 20s, and at least I can be glad that I've managed not to let ALL of that weight come back.) Naturally, I'd like to reach my goal weight as soon as is healthily possible.

I plan to follow an eating plan that's a combination of things I like from various diets and plans out there. Abs Diet, Mediterranean, Sonoma, 5 Factor Fitness... that type of thing. Lots of protein, water, healthy fats, etc. Nothing radical, but anything's better than my normal free-for-all. I love to eat, and I tend toward binge eating, so my willpower and practicing moderation will be key. I know I need to SLOW DOWN when I eat and cut my portions A LOT. I use Livestrong's The Daily Plate to log my eating, and I LOVE IT! I only use the free version, but it's an invaluable tool to me, and it kinda makes counting calories fun in a way. I'll have to figure out how to combine that with this diary to report on my daily intake.

For exercise, I'm going to do the Couch to 5K program in addition to various workout videos at home on a stability ball, with weights. I'm trying to figure out if it's best to do C25K and a video in one day, then rest the next or do C25K one day and the video the next. Hmmm... but in any case, I did Week 1/Day 1 of C25K today, and it about kicked my ass! I'm the ANTI-runner right now, but really want to build up my stamina. I can walk, rollerblade, bike, hike, etc., but running has always been the hardest thing for me. I was really hard-pressed to run for 60 seconds at a stretch today, and that's pretty sad, I know! If I hadn't read so many people saying if THEY can do it, anyone can do it, I would never believe something like this was even worth trying for me, as bad off as I'm starting out, stamina-wise. As far as the rest of me, my stomach and my butt are my worst trouble spots, and guess what.... I HATE ab work and glute work! There may be a cause & effect relationship there, maybe.

Okay, so why do I want to lose weight?

- to be healthy & happy and feel good (no-brainer, right?)
- to gain back confidence (sadly lacking of late!)
- to feel beautiful and sexy again
- to regain a joy for life and an interest in doing more instead of avoiding
social situations
- to buy the clothes that I want to, not the ones that I have to, to
cover up this roll and that roll
- because if I dont start losing weight now, I will regret wasting more time
(it's already been WAY too long)
- because my boyfriend is a great guy who treats me very well and deserves
a hot girlfriend
- to be able to run with my b/f
- TO FINALLY WEAR A BIKINI FOR THE FIRST TIME!!!

...among others, infinity....

So this is pretty much the longest entry in history, then, right??? Oh well, what should I expect after all the years and months of lurking in silence and procrastinating... when it finally bubbles forth, it REALLY bubbles forth!!!

Thanks for reading, (if anyone did!) and best of luck to you in your own quest!

 

[timezup]

So, I actually did Week 1/ Day 2 of Couch to 5K today, and it was sooooo much better than the first day!!!

For one thing, I wised up and went at 8 in the morning instead of 11:30 (I'm in FL and this week has been very hot) and that helped a whole lot. I also learned from the last time that hair falling/blowing into my face and sunglasses sliding down my nose when I sweat are very annoying distractions when trying to jog, so eliminating those problems helped, too. I am so excited at the prospect of being able to run any kind of respectable distance or length of time by the end of this program... it's giving me great hope. I can't believe that something so worthwhile is actually completely free! Yay!

As far as my eating goes, yesterday was a pretty good day with the exception of a) a momentary lapse of reason after deciding "just a couple" of Tostitos with a hint of lime would be okay but actually lead to eating TWO whole servings of them (which is still better than the rest of the bag!) and b) deciding shortly before dinner time that it would be Date Night with the b/f since we're going to be pretty busy working on the sailboat we're fixing up for the next several days. I'm going to have a "cheat day" each week so I don't start accumulating crazy cravings to sabotage me down the road. We ended up going out for Mexican and then to a movie. I ate what I wanted at the restaurant, but left some food on my plate and didn't get popcorn at the movie...so, progress! I'm still going to log it all on my Daily Plate and carry on.

 

[timezup]

Week 1/Day 3.... check! Yay!!! First time I've made it this far, and I'm excited to stick with it and see myself improve. I had to wait a couple of extra days to get in Day 3 because I pulled a muscle in my back on Day 2, but I managed to keep my time on injured reserve down to just a couple days, thank goodness.

I haven't been weighing myself the last few days because it's that water-retention time of the month for me, and I can tell by my clothes that I've gained some. I didn't want to get bummed out, so I skipped the scale. As far as eating goes, I've been on track with calories, staying in the 1300 range, but I'd like to get my sodium intake down some. Most of the lower-fat handy convenience foods that I rely on have so much sodium. I will have to start taking fewer shortcuts and have more whole foods with less.

Maybe I'll start posting my food here, too. I know I should be more thorough with my diary, but baby steps. At least I'm doing one now! I'll get it all together eventually.