Woot! Woohoo!

Another two pound loss this week for a total of 9 pounds off!! Yippeee!!!

I can't believe it, but even in the first week I had someone ask if I had lost weight. And a second person asked me this week. Wow, normally it takes 20 pounds for anyone to notice! But I see it myself in my face and my middle. It looks like a lot of my puffiness is going away. I can see better definition in my face and I "look more like me," if that makes any sense.

The plan is becoming more automatic now. I keep a running grocery list so I have the things I need on hand.

I'm loving all the vegetables. Sauteed zucchini is a new favorite. Spinach, an old love of mine even back to preschool days, is present often. Sliced tomatos are a daily treat. Salads are a joy with baby spinach, leaf lettuce, romaine or iceberg lettuce mixed with mushrooms. And who can say anything bad about green beans?

The temperature this morning was a refreshing 64 degrees at 8 a.m. It's now up to 72 at 9:15, still beautiful. I'll start adding morning walks this week if these temperatures hold up.

Dinner tonight with a friend at a little Spanish restaurant a couple of blocks from me. I picked the place, not for the atmosphere but because of the healthy food offerings. They are known for their grilled chicken. They also offer fish, grilled salmon and grilled shrimp. The sides include beans and rice, but also some fresh cooked veggies. And the prices are very inexpensive. The salmon and the shrimp are the two "high-priced" selections, and you get those with two sides for $5.95. Isn't that amazing in these times?

How are you doing this week? Now that I've found my groove I want to hear your success stories too. C'mon, let me hear 'em!

WWINs-day Weigh-In

Good morning! How's everyone?

I am happy to report another two pounds off, for a total of seven now. Yay!

I had, of course, hoped for another amazing total, but there is nothing wrong with losing two pounds this week. It's actually quite amazing in itself, considering how long I've been stuck at the starting gate.

I am still using the DASH Diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension). This is a diet loaded with grains, fruits and vegetables. I have found the process fascinating and it's the kind of thing I need. In the beginning it is intensively time-consuming and requires a lot of planning and preparation. Now, though, after the first couple of weeks I have put it in a form for myself that simplifies it to the point of being nearly routine.

Once I've studied the information that includes all the nutrient counts and sodium counts, I know that I can keep that information stashed away and just take the menu in its simplest form.

I've been keeping all the information in a binder, after printing off each day's menu and punching the sheets with a three-ring punch. I have a two-week menu -- three meals a day for 14 days. At the end of the two weeks I'll recycle from the beginning.

It FEELS like an awful lot of food. I honestly have not been hungry one minute while doing this. Also, it FEELS like I am constantly eating because the food is not quick stuff-your-mouth-and-be-done food. It takes me quite a lot longer to eat oatmeal, whole wheat toast and whole fruits than it did to scarf down a breakfast burrito, for example. (And those were my weakness.)

My blood sugar levels seem to be at an optimal level, too, staying fairly even throughout the day. This is purely self reporting as I don't monitor my levels objectively. But I think we know to some extent if things are working the way they should be or not.

I have not had any cravings since I've been feeding my body right. No sweating it out wondering if I can cheat and have X, Y or Z.

I'll keep you posted as I continue. For now, though, I think I've found my kick-start to get where I need to be.

How has your week gone?

I couldn't wait to get up today!

Give me a big ol' Ta-DA you guys! I've lost five pounds this week. I think I've got my drive back!

This week I've really concentrated on treating myself better and fueling my body correctly. Last Wednesday involved a 2 1/2-hour shopping trip to the grocery store, actually FOLLOWING A PLAN.

I started the DASH diet last Wednesday, with information from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and Lifeclinic.com Of great help to me is a day-to-day menu that gives me a real road map and removes the insecurity of wandering aimlessly around Dietland.

I've got the core plan as well as a graphic that shows EXACTLY how I can modify the plan for weight loss, based on a computer-generated formula for my age, sex, height and current weight.

I am eating very well. I didn't want to play with substitutions or pretend that I could make my own changes yet.

I've even found a second week of menus. Having two weeks' of this road map all ready for me will be beyond helpful! It is very easy and I'm eating normal, healthy foods that normally would not be on my radar. Nothing weird.

It's saved me time, aggravation, money and gasoline, too. I spent $129.48 at the grocery store last Wednesday and that has stocked my larder for well over a week. Well, it's been a week of good meals and there's no need for me to return to the store, yet. Consider that is 21 meals so far (I don't have the brainpower this morning to calculate how many more meals I can make before going back to the store.) If it's just the 21 meals, that's an average cost of $6.16. But there are small snacks built into the plan as well, which I didn't count in that calculation. Figure what it costs, per meal, to eat out -- even at a fast-food place. Now throw in transportation costs. The price of gasoline for waiting at a drive-thru window is through the roof!

OK, OK. I've got to run. I just wanted to share that FINALLY I'm back in gear and I really feel like I've found the key that will propel me forward again. I'm in the zone now. I've got my game plan. And woot! Five pounds!!!

A Report

I'm still doing 2 miles, 5 times a week. I got on my son's good scale on Tuesday. I've lost 15 pounds total. My "small" jeans are about 2 inches too big in the waist, so I'm losing it where it needs to go away, from a health standpoint. I'm happy with it.
Congrats to Tech and Michelle. Nice going.

Wednesday, Aug. 9 -- That's the Way It Is

I think I need a new scale. The one I have is a liar, a mean, nasty liar. It says I am right back at my starting point (sad face).

My whole body feels swollen -- ankles, feet, fingers. It's been too hot to go outside for much of anything. I can't wait for cooler weather so we can stop boiling.

I'm having to redraft my reasons for wanting to lose weight. Of course we all agree that's our goal, but I am still missing a key element. I'm struggling to find that one piece of my inner self that determines that the desired result is worth the change in behavior to acquire it. Y'all know, as I do, that things won't change until there is a deep, inner belief that I'm worth making the changes for. (Or as Dr. Phil would say, that it is "change-worthy behavior.")

Losing weight is nothing more than applied arithmetic. Input equals outcome. To lessen our mass, we either consume less or burn more calories. Easy fact to understand. I know that, as do you. I've lost (and regained) this weight more times than I can count now. I just haven't been able to get it off now because I haven't, can't seem to, make myself priority one. I am not "project status."

I know that wonderful feeling where I "get it" -- I believe in the goal. Even if the weight loss is one or two pounds a week, I got it and knew that those small losses would accumulate to form the ultimate goal of a healthy weight. The small successes were motivating and kept me going.

I know it helped me when I had a real-life cohort, sitting right next to me, taking a different path to the same goal. We hadn't spoken of it before we started; it was a mere coincidence that we set out on our paths at the same time. When we (and other people) started noticing the weight loss in each other, an unspoken competition began. You know, that "I can't let him beat me" mentality. Eventually we started comparing notes, talking about drinking water and exercising.

Others caught that competitive bug when they saw us. There was a lot of successful weight loss going on. I got to a size 8, something I never, ever dreamed possible.

But I've lost it. A couple of things happened, including the death of my "competitor" or "partner." Other things happened where I felt like I lost myself -- family illnesses, caretaking, deaths.

Now I am isolated, working alone from home. That has shrunk my social circle completely.

There's part of the "secret".

We need personal interaction with others who support our goals, who wish for us to live our own best lives. We can't let our spirits evaporate and disappear. We have to make ourselves at least as important as the people around us. We have to put on our own oxygen masks before we help those around us on the plane with us.

OK, I hope you all had a good week, whether you lost weight or not. I have some more to think about today. ((HUGS to you all)).

WWIN

I kinda forgot that it was Wednesday today. I wasn't really sure which day of the week it was, for certain, but I am just about 100% sure it's WWIN.

*sigh*

My frame of mind isn't so good to I am going to keep this short and sweet.

*insert your candy of choice here*

That, was the sweet.

The short, is that I did lose 1.2 lbs. I am shocked, frankly. Maybe I reached the other side of that plateau.

I dusted the scales off if anyone cares to step up?