Getting Back on Track

Weight: 247

Starting weight: 274

27 pounds lost.

I am thinking of cutting back my progress reports to once a month or so. We’ll see.

248 on my scale this morning! Yippee Skippy!

I am just amazed that this is working. After so many false starts, something has finally clicked. Sometimes I fear when I step on the scale that it is just a cruel joke and I am really 274 pounds again.

Anyway, I got to change my chickie avatar to the “25 Pounds lost” one. Seems silly, but those little things keep me motivated.

I have been thinking that since I am not spending money on Weight Watchers meetings, maybe I could put money aside for a shopping spree when I get to goal. If I put $10/pound that would be $1000, which would be a nice shopping trip. So, I owe myself $260 so far. I will put it in a seperate bank acocount so it will be there waiting when I am ready.

Weight: 251 (0 since last week, -23 from my highest) TOM

Weight last Week: 251

Starting weight: 274

I just ordered “The Body Fat Solution” by Tom Venuto and “New Rules of Lifting for Women” by Lou Schuler based on recommendations on the WL forum at 3FC. I am hoping they help to unearth my exercise mojo that seems to have totally disappeared. I remember how wonderful it felt to be strong. I do remember that.

I also read some people talking about winter weight gain, and that is a problem for me too. Anyone have any suggestions? I know I should get out my light box, but not sure when I could use it. I think you are supposed to use it in the morning. Someone suggested a light wake up lamp by Phillips that I may look into. I know I much prefer waking up naturally to sunlight rather than the blaring of the alarm.

I popped in to Sears today on my lunch hour, mainly because my Catalogue order was in. I decided to swing by the Plus size department to see if there was anything new. I happened to run into an acquaintance of mine that was looking at the same suede vests that I was. She tried on the largest size and it was still too small (and they fit big, I ended up getting an 18W and I am wearing a 22W now). Anyway, I felt bad for her. I have been there. The days when even nothing fits. Everything looks like $hit. I am still not that far from there. I felt like saying there is hope. I have gained a ton, but I’m on my way back down. You can too! But, of course I didn’t, I couldn’t. I have discussed weight with this lady before, but not in years. It was back in the days when I had lost 65 pounds and successfully kept it off for a few years.

I got the blue suede vest and the shirt that went with it and a black bra. Also the cranberry jacket that I picked up from the catalogue is really nice. Love the color.

In other news, TOM is here again. I had been spotting for a full week before it happened this time. I was starting to think that the spotting was all there would be. Cool! But, no such luck. So, by the time it is done I will have had it for probably close to 2 weeks. And that is on a 21 day cycle. Oh the joys of peri-menopause. At least it will be done (it better be) before we go away next weekend.

I don’t hold out much hope for a good weigh in tomorrow because of it. I did see 250 one day this week, so I think I am down.

Weight: 251 (-2 since last week, -23 from my highest)

Weight last Week: 253

Starting weight: 274

First of all, let me say that I am ecstatic, over the moon happy with this! As I mentioned yesterday, I haven’t been tracking calories, and I wasn’t really expecting a loss.

I just realized that if I lose 2 pounds again this week, a number of milestones will be met. I will be under 250, I will have lost 25 pounds (so I can change my chickie avatar ), and I will be one quarter of the way to my goal of losing 100 pounds. Woo hoo! I need to think about a nice reward. I think for 50 pounds lost I will reward myself with a ring, but not sure about 25. Also, at 27 pounds lost I will have reached  10% of my starting weight lost.

I must say, I think this is the most I have ever lost without going to Weight Watchers, just think about how much money I am saving. 3FC is a big part of my success, it helps keep my head in the game, which is the biggest piece of the weight loss puzzle pie. Mind, mouth, muscle, motion. I have a good handle on the first two pieces, now I need to get a handle on the other two.

I have just been coasting these past few weeks. I haven’t written down my calories in like forever. Any small losses I am having are just a gift, because I have no idea how many calories I am eating. Not that I have been eating poorly. Other than a few blips, I feel like I have eaten quite well. Maybe Fitday would pique my interest, although I did not really like it much before. Too hard to find the foods I eat.

And exercise is still non-existant. I just can’t seem to drag my butt out the door in the mornings.

I think part of the problem is that I have now lost 21 pounds, and so a) I am feeling a lot better, and my clothes are fitting comfortably again, and b) I kind of get  to this point at almost all my weight loss attempts where I figure maybe this is good enough. Hello! You still weigh 253 friggin pounds! Sometimes this happens around the 12 pound mark, but this time it was 20.

So, I am setting myself a mini-goal. Just to make it under 250. That is about 4 pounds. Then I will plan a reward, and re-evaluate. Maybe if I take this in very small chunks I can keep on going.

I read on 3FC all the time about people losing major amounts of weight in a year, but I just don’t think I can do that. I want to do that, but I have been down this road so many times before. BTW, that is one thing I love about 3FC, people are actually doing it! And they are regular, normal people like me.

Weight: 253 (-2 since last week, -21 from my highest)

Weight last Week: 255

Starting weight: 274

Our computer keyboard was messed up so I didn’t get around to posting this until today.

Weight: 255 (+1 since last week, -19 from my highest) TOM

Weight last Week: 254

Starting weight: 274

Fitness: Zilch!  Need to make an action plan.

Mood: Had the blues one day - could be TOM related

I am pretty sure the gain is related to TOM, although not 100% sure as I have noticed that since I have been back on plan TOM related water weight gain is not as pronounced. I did not go crazy with my eating though, so I know I couldn’t have gained. However, I will say that I have struggled a bit this week and not been perfectly on plan. One day I had a mini-binge after work. The sort of thing I used to do regularly. I vow to get right back to it this week. I might even drop my calories to 1500 or under. I also went to a BBQ and had a piece of cheesecake.

Also, I know I need to make an exercise action plan. It is just too dark in the mornings now to walk. So, my choices are:

• Go to the gym in the mornings before work like I used to.
• Do WATP or exercise bike in the morning before work.
• Go to the gym after work.
• Walk on my lunch hour.

I know from the past that I have my greatest success if I do it in the morning. The thing is, I am not a morning person. I hate going out in the morning before work. When I used to go the gym before work I started work at 9:00, now I start at 8:00, which makes it tougher. I don’t mind walking at noon hour, so that is a possibility if I can do it consistently. I think for this week I will go to the gym in the a.m. This weekend I will get some work outfits together so I can just grab one and go. I should also prep some lunches as that is another thing in the morning that takes time.

Don’t you just love long weekends? Makes for a nice, short 4 day work week next week too. 

Yesterday I got some stuff done around the house. Vacuuming, etc. and also got the windows washed on the outside & inside. Today it is really sunny and I see some streaks that need touching up. Today I want to play with the digital picture frame and see if I can get it up and running again. The boys gave us one for Christmas a couple of years, which we broke, so we got this one as a replacement but never have taken it out of the box. If I can figure it out I want to add some more pictures to the memory card.  Also going to Skype with the boys later this afternoon. We are loving Skype and I’m so glad we figured out how to do it. It makes them seem not quite so far away.

Len went golfing later in the day yesterday and I vegged out watching crap on TLC. Not sure why, but they don’t seem to play the Flip This House type of stuff that I love that much on there any more. Anyway, they had all these programs on super mobidly obese people. Half ton teen, woman, man, 650 pound virgin, etc. I told you it was crap. But I couldn’t quit watching. I can’t see myself ever getting to the point where I eat myself into a bed-ridden state, but then again I don’t imagine they ever did either. I do know that each time I lose and regain I go higher than my previous highest weight. I am sure there is some physical reason for this. This last time I hit 274, scarily getting close to 300. My previous highest was 259 back in 2000. At that time I vowed “never again”. Sound familiar? But, the thing is, I was 100% convinced that I had made a lifestyle change and I could keep off the 65 pounds that I lost forever. I was exercising regularly, I had my eating under control. My head was in a good place. But, anyway, I guess I didn’t have it down 100%. My ankle/foot problem derailed me so I could barely walk, I went on a major pity party/mild depression, and the rest is history as they say.

Anyway, I made a yummy breakfast this morning. Oat Bran. I have had this in the cupboard for a long time, but have only added it to my regular high fiber porridge on occasion. Today I made a bowl of oat bran and topped it with a mashed banana and a bit of 1% milk. Oh so Delish! And only 120 calories and about 100 for the banana. I think I have a new weekend favorite.