sabotage

I updated my ticker.  I was doing so well.  And then something interrupted, and it's been downhill since.  This last week has been total sabotage.  I finally update my Daily Weigh pictures (links on the left) which show my #fail.  I ate out at restaurants more in the last week than I have in a long time.  Tuesday night, Wednesday lunch and dinner, Friday dinner.  Its so easy to put a couple pounds back on, and I know it's going to take me weeks to get it back off.  Not worth it, but the damage is done and I only have forward to go.

I am joining my friend Jenn in stepping it up in April.  I've been slacking off on the push ups.  My only cardio has been a 20 minute walk during my afternoon work break and even that isn't every day. I need to get back to good food choices -- more protein, less fat, less sugar, less carbs.

new ticker time

I need a new ticker I guess...and not my heart lol. I've surpassed my goal on the ticker on the right side of my blog.  Time for a new goal! :)

So close I won't taste it

I was going to write something earlier but then the whole Japan earthquake & tsunami thing captured attention.  By noon we had bad weather moving in and work got busier.  By the time I left work at 3:30 it was blizzarding something awful and the drive home was not fun. With all that I forgot my little morning woohoo, it was insignificant in light.  Anyway, now that I'm home safe and hunkered down, here's my woohoo...

Looky over there to the right at my weight loss ticker.  Yep, it says 154.8.  I am SO close to this goal.  In all truth I was extremely surprised. But it gives me resolve to be good over the weekend, to not give in to eating some kind of high sodium-laden junk food.  The goal is so close, I won't taste it -- the unhealthy food that is lol.

2 Firsts

I got to see something today that I haven't seen in about 15 years.

The 150s on the scale! Ok, so it's just barely there, but that's a 5, not a 6 !! I do fully expect to be back in the 60s again, and maybe even hang there a bit--based on my history.  But I also do have this tiny hope that the number will go down and fully plant me in the 50s for good. That hope is based on my second 1st today. 

After my frustration of just sitting within a three pound range, last week I decided to try something for a jump start.  Let me precursor that I don't believe diet pills are the answer.  I know they don't lead to lasting weight loss, or they don't lead to any weight loss at all.  But, the frustrated part of me wanted to try something, anything.  Ok, not anything. But after working my ass off at the gym, eating within my alloted calories, and not losing, I gave in to the illusion a diet pill may help. 

I decided on Fahrenheit Nutrition's Lean EFX. 

It cost approximately $35 for 45 pills.  The label says 1 pill in the morning with food.  Do not take later in the day.  And after taking my first pill, I saw why.  Wow did it give me energy! At first I didn't notice much of an appetite suppressant effect, I was hungry all morning.  But then at lunch I had a PB&J, Blueberry Chobani greek yogurt, and a Babybel Light--about average for what I have most lunches.  But after lunch I felt stuffed, and I continued to feel that way all afternoon into the evening. So I'm noticing it now lol. 

As for if it really helps burn more fat, etc., I'll get back to you on that.  The scale should show the difference if it works.  

Frustration!

A friend told me that according to scientists yesterday (January 24) is considered the worst day of the year. Some of the reasons being financial stress after the holidays, hype of holidays done, blowing off the new year’s resolutions, less sunlight, etc.

I’m feeling the frustration. It’s not financial or holiday letdown related, it’s just – WINTER. We have 6, yes SIX, months of winter here. It gets long. And it’s cold. And even when the sun does come out, I work in a windowless office and don’t get to see it. The roads suck to drive on.

Then there’s the scale. I’m frustrated with trying—eating well, trying to get some form of cardio in, in hopes of not aggravating my plantar fasciitis more (biking is out)—only to have the scale just fluctuate in a 3 pound range. Up down up down. I look at the standings for my work weight loss challenge and see everyone losing, and I gained. Real booster there, not.

I broke down today and ordered Fahrenheit Nutrition Lean EFX. I’m not looking for it to be a miracle cure, but I’m hoping it will help jump start metabolism, so I don’t feel that my efforts are for nothing. I’ll be sure to let you know if it helps, or if it was a waste of $.

Beginning The Power of One

I’m ready I’m ready I’m ready (can you hear the Spongebob tone?) …for this challenge. For the hoedown my goal was to lose 5.5 pounds, and I managed to lose 3.5, and then Christmas came and I gained it back. But! That’s ok, cuz I didn’t gain more! :P This challenge is 8 wonderful weeks long and I’d be just tickled if I could lose 10 pounds. There are several reasons for this, which serve as my resolutions “healthy living goals”:

1. Get my BMI into the "healthy" range. If I lose 10 pounds, that will drop me into the top of the healthy range. 10 pounds, so little yet so far.

2. Lower my cholesterol. Sometime in the next month I am due for a recheck. My dr’s recommendations in July were to “lose weight, continue exercising, and eat less than 200 mg of cholesterol/day”. For the most part I’ve done all of those, and I’m hoping it’s dropped some.

3. Become a better runner. This includes being able to run longer without walking or breaks, and even a little speed.

4. Utilize the equipment I have at home more often. Working out does not mean I need to go to the gym. I have some weights, a ball, an elliptical, a treadmill, a big clunky weight machine—heck it’s our own little mini gym! I just need to use all of it more.

5. To prove to myself that I CAN do it! (and becuz OCD wanted a 5th bullet).

I hope to get a new scale soon, I really want to start posting a pic of my weekly weigh ins cuz I think ya’ll are just cool to be brave enough to do that. EDIT: I will take a “before” pic when I get home from work tonight (see below now). Alas, here are my current stats:

Starting Weight: 164.5
Waist Measurement: 32”
Hips Measurement: 41”

Good lucky and healthy vibes to everyone!

EDITED TO ADD: Here's my bare-almost-all 'before' pics:

Unhealthy Barbie

The progression of Unhealthy Barbie.  

Holiday Hoedown Check-in Week 4

Here's my official weekly Hoedown checkin. In some ways a success, in others #fail.  The success is that I finally got to 162.  Why must a half measly little pound be so hard to drop? Geesh. Beyond that victory, I got so-so exercise in.  I have my goals set for 45 minutes every day, and if I walk over my lunch break and then again at my afternoon break I can make it.  I made 245 minutes total this last week.  The #fail comes in at the trying something new.  I have a hard enough time focusing on getting anything in much less trying something new.  My brain just says "walk, now."

The challenges for this next week--increase exercise minutes.  Ack, I'll try, really.  Don't know where I'll get it in, but I spose if I can find five minutes, that's more lol.  The non-fitness challenge, wow this is one I think many of us deal with.  I know I'm great for bashing myself.  Just like finding five minutes... I'll strive for one nice comment.  lol, such high ambition.

Holiday Hoedown Check-in::Week 3

How have I done this last week? I think ok.  I know I could do more, do better.... but I could do a lot worse too.  I got some decent exercise minutes in.  But as for trying something new, can I count shoveling snow? granted it's not new to me, but it's the first time I've done it in awhile lol. 

What does the scale show?  I've managed to get it back down to 162.5 and hovering there.  I still don't have a new scale for the fancy pic, hoping I get one as a xmas pressie and if not then I'll just buy one. 

Pic Update

I don't take body pics as often as I used to.  Weight loss has been slow, changes are not as evident.  However, to give you an idea of what 50 pounds difference can make, here's some comparison:


This was May 2007, at my heaviest of approximately 210 pounds.

I hate those pics.  The angle of the photo isn't the best, and I just .... ugh.  This was what I'd allowed myself to become from depression and being on the wrong antidepressant.

Contrast with yesterday.  This is me at 162.  I've got a ways to go to get where I'd like to be, but I'm going to keep trying.  Ounce by ounce, it will add up to pounds.  My hope is to motivate myself thru this blog (and maybe motivate others too :P )