Exercise - 60 mins on the treadmill (2 x 30)

Water - 12 cups

Food - 1934 calories (25% fat, 46% carbs, 26% protein)

Breakfast - protein shake, 3 clementines (159)

Lunch - beef/barley/mushroom soup, crackers, apple, peaches (608)

Dinner - baked chicken with tomato/wine sauce and cheese, broccoli, butter, balsamic dressing (536)

Snacks - protein shake (x2), apples, peaches, cheese spread and rice crisps (630)

I was feeling very lazy today so I just opened a can of peaches at lunch, although I did make the fruit salad for tomorrow. It was actually a very low calorie day so I added some crackers at lunch, and took the higher calorie (cheese/rice crisps) snack. It’s actually kind of funny to make sure I eat closer to the high end of my range. I just know that if I don’t, I’ll have nowhere to go later on. It’s a long road, and I know I’d rather take it slower (even now) and actually make it to the end.

mizu - I think when you have so much to lose (as I do) those mini goals just don’t seem to encourage me. I set April 15, 2010 as my completed date (wow, that’s pretty far off) in FitDay. You pretty much have to set a date to get it to generate reports. When I started out I think that was roughly 2 pounds a week, which I know I probably can’t maintain over the long haul. At the moment my average (as of this morning) is 2.83 pounds per week, but I wonder how I’ll deal the first few weeks it’s either 1 pound, nothing, or god forbid higher. It comes for everyone, I just hope I don’t freak out at that point. I’ve even decided that even a few low losing weeks is not going to immediately cause me to lower my calories. Yes, I sound all rational now… we’ll see.

skinnywanna - I bought the treadmill a couple of years ago when money wasn’t an issue. I’m so glad I did, and yes, very lucky. It’s quite cold outside tonight and I understand we may get as much as a foot of snow. It gives me a great place, with no excuses, to exercise every day.

justdeb - the weights taunt me, but I’m hoping to overcome that this month. The other cat we have still avoids the room when I’m on it. The only thing he hates more is the vacuum cleaner. I think it was last week he was running down the stairs from the vacuum and I happened to be on the treadmill. He snuck past it, giving me the evil eye before jumping on the bar to hide. I couldn’t help laughing at him (he was not impressed). He decided to chase the mouse pointer tonight so I added his picture as well.

Little one (aka Shadow) loves to chase the mouse pointer. It makes working at the computer difficult some days.  I actually got the camera to try and get him to leave the desk.  It didn’t actually work so eventually I had to leave the desk for a few minutes.

Well, it’s the end of the month and perhaps it’s a good time to look back and set goals for the next month. I won’t set any weight goals because I think they can be counter-productive. If you meet them too early in the month it might give you an excuse to slack off. If you don’t meet them will it cause you to be disappointed over what could be perceived as a failure. However, monthly goals should challenge you a little to step out of your comfort zone, if only a little. So, based on that, the goals for February will be:

• 1800 - 2000 calories a day
• 60 minutes on the treadmill each day
• 90 minutes of non-treadmill exercise (weekly)

The calories and the treadmill are quite reasonable, as I’ve been hitting the food target daily, and since January 7th most days on the treadmill are 90 minutes. I just recognize that I should do more strength training. I have weights, resistance bands, and a fairly decent DVD for using both. I just don’t like doing the other types of exercise, so this will be a push for me. The goal should be possible, since it’s less than 15 minutes a day. However, I know it will be the hardest one to reach.

I added a picture I took this morning.  This is Gus getting ready to workout.  I guess he’s over his fear of it.

leanmoomercows - I’m not necessarily bored with my diet. I find the lunches the hardest one to work around. Breakfast is a protein shake and fuit, dinner is one of either 17 of the things in the freezer or one of two other choices. And even some of the frozen items can be changed up a little (like the pork and the chicken breasts). Lunches are hard to keep low enough that I can still snack later, but not so low that I’m famished in the afternoon. The soups have been a good choice, but I do need a little more variety, especially in the late spring. So that’s why the plan to see what Costco has in the cold meat area. If they have some portabello mushrooms it might be crab-stuffed mushrooms this weekend.

justdeb - I know my mother isn’t frantic about the money. She’ll save that for once I start (or at least after I’ve been accepted). She’s probably also seeing a slight rise in the food bills as well. I used to do some of the shopping on my way home from work, mainly so I could buy the junk I was eating. But to her that was a hidden cost. We did agree to increase the equity loan once I’ve been accepted into a college. Even if we double it, we’re still at less than a third of the overall value of the house. So financially we’re okay, but we’re both used to just buying things we want as we’ve had way too much disposable income over the last 7 or 8 years.