I have been eating, for the most part, between 1,800 and 2,000 calories per day. I haven’t notice much change in the February :(. Sometimes I wonder if I am looking too closely at my weight. I know that it is going to take me at least a couple of years to resolve and the rest of my life to maintain; but, for some reason, I weigh everytime I go to the bathroom.

I notice that in the morning I typically weigh 3-5lbs less. So, of course, this is what I use as my official weight. The problem is that I can’t help but feel a sharp disappointment when I get on the scale at 5:30 a.m. and I weigh the same as I did the previous morning. The worse is when I am 2 pounds heavier.

I would love to be strong enough to ignore the scale completely! My fear is that I will weigh 6 weeks down the road and see that I have been eating wrong and “wasted” a block of time that I could have been doing the right thing.

It’s kind of strange but maybe people who have struggled with weight will understand. I want to lose as efficiently as I can while I have the mindset to work at it. The bottom line is that I, like a lot of people, have a real fear that this is only a short burst of clarity and that six months from now my blog will be dormant and I will be heavier than when I started 4 months ago.

I can’t say that I am down (emotionally) this week but I am a bit diappointed with my results, or lack thereof.

When I consider that I I have not gained weight this week, I guess it is a good thing. When I consider that I have eaten less artery-clogging fried foods it is a very good thing.

I know that I should focus on consistently doing the right thing and that the right thing does not always mean I will loose weight, it just gets hard sometimes.

The plan for the comming week, I will cut my calories to a 1,400-1600. I want to see if there will be a difference in my monthly results.

Ok, on the bright side, I went down 4lbs in January and am already down 4lbs for this month.

I know I am doing the right thing, it’s just hard because it seems like so many are posting 8 and 10lb losses in a month’s time. Oh well, maybe those people are working harder than I am.

One day at a time . . .

I have been hovering around 17 down for some time. I was so glad when I got on the scale today and saw that I am 23 down!!!

I have been avoiding the fast food and cooking at home now since January 1. I’ve had a couple of slip ups but have not been overeating :). I am an admitted grazer. I want to eat all day long. I have been focusing on meals that are 300 calories or less and trying to space them at 3 hours intervals. It has been working great.

I have been snacking a lot but my snacks are usually a cheese stick or yogurt with trail mix. As for the meals, I allow myself one frozen diet meal a day (sodium is too high to have more than one a day). I also have been fitting in a light hot dog here and there. Also, a love the Green Giant veggies (only 100 calories per box).

My goal is to move some of the processed foods out of my diet and ultimately focus on fresh veggies and lean meats. But, for right now, this is working.

I have been struggling with exercise avoidance. I don’t know exactly why but I have been completely ignoring exercise–even simple walking. My sister invited me to use her treadmill after work. So, my goal for the coming week is to stop by and walk at least 30 minutes 3xs a week.

I have discovered that I love Luna Bars. I have only tried the Peanut Butter Cookie but I bought 3 kinds of bars to try as snacks this week.

I feel good about the changes on the scale so far. I just took a waist measurment so I can begin to track non-scale changes as well. I am 1.5 lbs from the weight I was at when I joined Weight Watcher’s in 2000. Soon I will be at my lowest weight as an adult–that’s kinda scary becuase it is a considerably high number but I gotta start somewhere.

Hope all is well with everyone!!!

I have been eating well for the past 7 days. I have not gone over 2,000 calories and have tried to be closer to 1,800. I feel good, I am satisfied after my meals and am not feeling deprived at all. I hope that I am able to keep up the momentum long enough to see some real results! So far I am down about 20lbs–the most weight I have ever lost in my life.

Around 2000 I joined weight watchers and worked with a trainer for about 6 months. The most I lost was about 12lbs. Although I worked out well I did not eat the way I should have after the first 2 months. I believe that this time I am taking it more seriously. I am keeping track of everything I eat and planning ahead (something weight watcher’s teaches but I never did).

I did my shopping for the next 3 days today. I cannot believe how much food I can eat while staying within my 1,800 - 2,000 calorie range. For example today I am having
Breakfast Tacos-350
Peanut Butter Cookie Luna Bar-180
Turkey Sandwich with Lt Mayo & Colby-200
Baked Potato with Chicken, Broccoli & Cheese-250
2 Peanut Butter Cookies-200

This is only 1,180 calories and its already 5:30! I know that I need to fit in about 700 more caloies before the end of the day but I haven’t even eaten the baked potato yet! I think it’s because I went shopping with a friend who had the bypass and he does not eat. We were together for about 6 hours yesterday (I didn’t eat during that time) and we were together for about 5 hours today and, again, because he didn’t eat all I had was a Luna Bar. Before his bypass we would have gone out for a calorie packed lunch (and I would have loved it). Instead we walked a lot around the mall shopping.

Oh well, I won’t get too obsessed on days when I am a few hundred under my calorie goals. There will be day when I am over.

I don’t know why but I have that feeling that something good is around the corner. I don’t know that it is related to my weight journey or if it is something else–I just love that feeling!!!

I have been eating on plan, about 2,000 calories a day. No fried foods or fast foods. I have eaten out at a sit down place a couple of times but refused to finish my meal (even the fries). My normal routine was to eat the fries first because they get cold and I hate cold fries. The last time I went out I made a point to eat part of the sandwich first and pick at the fries until they got cold. I can’t wait until I can say “hold the fries” or “I will have the spring veggies.” Baby steps . . .

I have been treating myself to baked tater tots, which I know is not the best food choice; however, it does keep me from feeling deprived. I also bought a pack of break & bake Simply Peanut Butter Cookies. Aunt Flow is here and she loves peanut butter! All I can say is that last month I had a fudge sundae with an oversized peanut butter cookie. This month, no sundae, next month . . . a smaller cookie :)!

My weight has been up and down buy about 4lbs. I don’t really pay attention during this time of month but I am hoping for an encouraging number next week.

I joined the 3fat chicks 2010 weight loss challenge. It’s just a side challenge where members log in weight changes monthly and add up to a final number for the year. I logged 4lbs in January–not bad considering I had 2 no holds barred bar nights (ok, I have been avoiding the drive-through post bar which has helped).

My hope for February is to go down at least 6lbs. I have been kind of enjoying calorie counting, it’s like a game for me right now. I have really cut back on the red meats too. I made my own salad dressing a couple weeks ago and it was quite good I even sneaked chili dogs into my calorie count. It’s about 300 calories for a light hot dog, bun and 1/4c of chilli. Also not the best food but it fits the bill when I feel like eating dirty!

Some of my goals for the coming week are to work in some whole grains and up the veggies! I am just not getting enough. Although I am not eating out I am begining to lean on pre-packaged veggies (which are yummy) and soups. I need to get away from those and focus on making my own stir fries. As for the grains, I want to try steel cut oats–they are supposed to stick to your ribs and we need that in the winter.

I will post weight change next week. Good luck all

I am plugging along with my plan. It seems to change daily but that’s okay. I am still avoiding fast food and cooking for myself.

I am doing yogurt or breakfast tacos in the morning. I am loving the breakfast taco!!! So far I have been eating two which is just under 400 calories. I think I will cut it down to one taco and a yogurt which will be about 300 calories. I don’t believe the 100 calorie yogurt on it’s own is enough for breakfast (even though I put nuts in).

Lunch has been a grilled chicken salad (about 450 calories) or a sub (I don’t know the calories–ugh!). On sub day I will eat 1/2 for lunch and the other 1/2 for dinner.

I have to plan some lunches to bring to work. My goal is to make a couple of freezable meals (lasagna, soup etc.) divide them into portions so I can grab one for lunch.

Dinner has been touch and go. My father cooks pretty healthy (except Fridays which is fried catfish day). I have been eating what he makes–except on fish day.

I have goals for the weekend!! I want to try roasting veggies. They always look so good and I am developing a taste for my own food.

As for the scale, I admit I still get on it every time I go to the bathroom. I have seen a lot of up and down; however, I know that weight is always changing. Gladly, I am on a downward trend!

I feel better. I have noticed that indigestion comes when I eat high calorie restaurant food. Since I have been making my own food more I know what I am eating and feel more confident that positive results are happening, whether the scale says so or not!!!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful week!!!

I don’t know what dark cloud was over my head when I wrote the glum, negative entry. I am glad that I discovered eatingwell.com. I jumped into the kitchen and whipped up some lemon biscotti (originally Anise Biscotti) and I feel much, much better.

I don’t understand it but knowing that I will have 38 calorie snacks for the next 2 weeks somehow made me happy I am feeling more in control of my food, I am empowered in the kitchen and I will never pay $1.10 for a biscotti again!!!

I am excited because tomorrow I will be doing something fabulous with the whole wheat bowtie pasta that has been in my pantry forever. I am excited because I am switching from coffee to tea this week. I am excited because next week I will feel better than I do right now.

I am done with feeling down. There is so much for me to be excited about!!!

So I don’t work out. . . yet. Oh well, it will come. Right now I will keep my calories in check and slowly and responsibly change my life for the better. Two entries in one day WHEW, that’s a record

I hope everyone has a wonderful and exciting week!!!

It may be the winter blahs, I don’t know. I cannot get motivated to do much of anything. I am not sad or down, just unmotivated. I don’t want to do laundry, I don’t want to go to work and I definately don’t want to exerise. Ok, I have to go to work so I do that. I avoid every other thing that I have to do. I have spent the majority of my days on the sofa playing corny facebook games–they aren’t even fun!

I need a hobby. I have been cooking more, YEAH ME! I have discovered eatingwell.com and have used 2 recipies, both of which were great. I made a big batch of turkey burgers (which my family loved). I have not exercised a day and I have still been avoiding the scale. I have been eating less drive through but seem to have replaced it with sit-down food out. It may be better than fast food because I can’t get it as easily, but I have not been the calorie hawk I was a couple weeks ago.

I won’t go back to the old me but I am struggling to find a new one.

A friend got the bypass and has had a fairly easy recovery. He is 2 weeks out and starting work next week. He is down 38lbs. I don’t think this is a good option for me. I know exactly what I need to do and the only reason I have not done it is laziness. I have been choosing the easy route day after day and something has got to give.

Oh well, I am still trying at it. Just going through something : (

I don’t want to weigh. Not because I have been really doing anything wrong. I just don’t want to be disappointed by slow movement. I realize that it will take time but, I am very impatient. I got a nice, speedy start but somehow, I feel like my clothes should be falling off me but they aren’t . . .

Oh well, I know that I am eating better. I am feeling better and one day I will be noticeably smaller : )

I have never had them, I have heard about them, I never have understood them darn, I think I have New Year’s Blues. I stayed home New Year’s Eve. New Year’s Day I barely got dressed. I had a casino trip planned with friends today and I cancelled yesterday. What is my deal? I just feel down. I’m not used to it, I don’t like it!!!

On the brighter side, I am maintaining about a 17lb weight loss and have been eating in. I had one bar night this week and I did over do it : )

I am happy with my pace so far and am planning meals ahead. Last night they kept showing this Pizza Hut commerical. Apparently, you can get any size and type of pizza for $10. I was SOOOO tempted to order a meatlovers. I did not. I baked my own pizza at home. I made my own crust and used italian sausage, pepperoni and full fat mozzerella : ) It wasn’t Pizza Hut but it fit the bill.

I took your advise and made myself a healthy soup–I used the remains of the turkey to make a stock from which I made turkey soup. It was delicious. I used carrot, onion, parsnip and potatoes. I have never had a better broth-based soup : ). I would like to make a creamy potato for this week.

I have been making breakfast at home but need to make a better choice. It has been eggs for the past 3 days (with cheese and italian sausage today). I will start back on my cereal tomorrow.

I feel better have written a bit. Maybe I am out of my funk. Be that as it may, I don’t think I’m getting dressed today : )

I hope Christmas 2009 found everyone healthy and happy!! I had a nice holiday with family & lots of food : )

I ate way too much of the food prepared by my sister. I will not get on the scale!!

The bright side is that my sister bought me a new coat. It is a nice wool overcoat which was badly needed. I got a bit nervous when I took off the hanger. It was a size 20. I know that because my arms are so huge I must have a size 24. I was a bit embarassed when I old my sister, it won’t fit : ( She and my niece encouraged me to try it on. I did and it easily slid on!!

It may sound crazy to a size 12 but I have never been so happy!! It was the first sign that my eating plan is working. Beyond the number on the scale which was hovering around 12 lbs down last time I weighed.

Over the next week the plan is to keep avoiding fast food. I will eat food prepared at home. I am debating whether to begin my ediets meals again or to continue on my own.

I made a big mistake. My father asked how much the meals are costing and I told him against my better judgement. Now he keeps telling me I can do it on my own, he will cook for me etc. The bottom line is that I could have done it on my own for the last 16 years. But I didn’t.

Anywho, I will be making the decision over the next few days . . . what should I do? Ediets gave me 16 lbs in 6 weeks. On my own (despite the holidays) I have gained back 2 lbs on my own. I think I have made my decisions. I am going back to ediets. I gotta do what works for me, even if it costs $400/month : (.