It happens every time. I think I’m doing so great and that I’ve got it all right…and then, I see the photos and…reality check! I’m nowhere close to doing anything perfectly, I’m still learning. I think it’s really important for me to not let myself get ahead of myself. There’s an ounce of humility I need to take from my reality check.

So…the things I CAN be happy about that are real results and not something I’ve conjured up in my head:

1. I feel thin.
2. I lose inches consistently.
3. I’ve already lost about twenty five pounds.
4. I’m smart enough to know when I’m living in denial.
5. I’ve made my health a true priority…mentally, emotionally, and financially.

Compared with how I looked at the beginning of all this in October, I can definitely see a difference. But from February to now…I just can’t see it. But this is actually motivation for me to do more. And, I’ve got a plan. It’s small…but I can do it. The fifth one I’m not going to push myself on, but I’m still going to move in that direction.

1. Take a brisk 30 minute walk on Tuesdays and Thursdays when I’m not working out.
2. Add even more fresh food to my diet, including more protein.
3. Continue keeping a daily food journal.
4. Stop watching all the weight-loss-by-surgery and super-morbidly-obese-spectacle shows.
5. Start hiking again on the weekends…maybe find a club I can join so I can do it with people who want to hike instead of making my friends come with me.
6. Oh…and get more sleep.

All this lifestyle-changing is hard. *sigh* I need a boost!!

blah blah blah

i think i’m going to start going to a nutritionist. hopefully insurance would cover it. i’m ready to get even more serious with my diet.

Staaaaaaats!!

So…no positive changes in weight. I didn’t expect any changes anyway, just because my eating habits in the last few weeks have been less than stellar. However, as is the norm (!!!), I did see changes in my measurements. Check it out, totals as of 1/23/07 in parentheses.

Neck: -.15 (-.65)

Upper Arm: -.5 (-2.5)

Chest: -.7 (-3)

Waist: -.5 (-4.5)

Hip: -.25 (-4.25)

Thigh: no change (-2.5)

Calf: no change (-1)

All over body total: -18.40

It’s so nice to finally see all those half inches and quarter inches add up into whole, juicy numbers! Now to keep with my diet regimen and maybe that weight number can go down.

In the behavioral side of things, I nixed the ice cream thing. I actually don’t miss it because I know what it was doing to me. It was stalling my progress.  Now we’re back to fresh(er) foods and meals prepared at home.

Off to make breakfast and head off to the farmer’s market. Woo!

In which I talk about what I know nothing about.

Rant-o-rama.

Short Term Goals

Hey everyone.

So, to help me achive some weight and measurement (and behaviour) related goals, I’ve devised a few numbers to reach and non-food related rewards for the short term. Behooooold!

So, my current weight is 278.

Goal #1: Buy a small notebook in order to food journal as it happens, quit with the lunchtime ice cream (which has become a habit in the last week…lots of work stress), and have the scale read 275.

Reward: New exercise top and bottoms. These I actually need really soon (hopefully when I weigh in this week…I’ll be able to meet the goal) because my exercise clothes are too big for me now. My shirt is so big that it’s uncomfortable to work out in anymore. Even after washing the shirt, I still feel like I’m wearing a tent. So…this new top is a bit more fitted and will be ten times more comfortable. I can’t wait!!

Goal #2: My current waist measurement is 45.5 inches. My goal is to reach 44 inches.

Reward: New jeans. Mine are tooooo balloon-y. Again, it’s uncomfortable to wear them anymore. Woo!

Goal #3: Break the 270’s.

Reward: New running shoes. The shoes I have are good for my regular workouts, but as I want to start jogging a little I’d like to have shoes made for running.

So…that’s it! I’m excited to work for these goals. I’m not really a goal oriented person…like, goals don’t usually motivate me. But this has seemed to change as of late. I actually am looking forward to achieving these small goals…and, of course…getting the rewards!! LOL.

Plodding Along

Things are good! I’m just doing what I need to do to get through each day. This weekend I made a few bad food choices, but, as Rachel reminded me, my bad food choices have changed. Six months ago a bad food day would have been a serious binge. So…I’m making progress.

I went clothes shopping today at a discount store where I don’t usually find cute things in my size. Welllll…I found three cute summer shirts that fit and were less than ten bucks each. Woo! And my jeans, which are tight after washing them (and then get super stretched out), are actually a bit loose coming out of the dryer. Gimmie two woos!

So…that’s that. Things are just kinda coasting along here. Like I’ve said before…it’s kinda boring around here. Amazing how these new habits have become a little bit old hat, you know? I do need to make another change in my diet, though. I haven’t decided what it is yet…but in time. Right now I’m going through some job stress, so I’m trying to make sure that I don’t go back to old binging habits and keep with my healthy choices. Last week, when different work stresses were annoying me, my first thought was “I really need to work out,” instead of “Oh my god, what should I eat?” So…triple woo!

That’s it! G’night!

Call me crazy…

…but I think that I want to pursue a career in medicine. Not sure yet. But, with the books and information I’m learning about my body and how the digestive system works I’m totally fascinated and want to learn more and more. Having worked in the admissions office of the School of Medicine at OHSU, I know that I don’t HAVE to have a science degree to go ahead with this…but…

I dunno. But…I would really love to work with obese people. Because I know what it’s like to be fat, I know what it takes to make the decision to change, and I know how overwhelming it can be to actually go out there and make those changes.

Like I said…call me crazy. But, why not see if it’s something I could do? I feel like I’ve reached a point in my life where I have made some serious decisions about my health and mental well being. Now I need to find something to do with my life that will help people and give me a way to connect with people. Maybe the health field isn’t my cup of tea…but I’d like to at least see.

Dad…for some reason I can already hear you laughing at me!! LOL!

*sigh* Victory.

Make that FOUR inches lost around my waist. Four. I love that number. It’s purty sweet.

Got measured yesterday. Everything was pretty much the same as last time except for the inch loss around my waist and…what was it? Half inch around my thighs?

Feeling pretty good about that! I think those are losses in two weeks since the last time I was measured. The best thing is that the little lines on my graphs are going down, down, down…some go up here and there, but then they’re right back down again. So…it’s consistant. And I’m happy with that. VERY happy with that.

Dunno…you suppose I could be under 200 by the time I rawk it Down Under? That’s about 79/80 pounds from now.

Things are looking up!

Hey folks! So…latest weigh-in reveals *drumroll*

Tomorrow I will have new measurements.

Overall things have been really good. My motvation has returned and I’m full speed ahead. I’m beginning to push myself a little more during my workouts. Sure I’m complaining a lot more, but…at least I’m making sure that I work my muscles instead of just doing the motions.

I decided to put my jogging on hold. My shins protested…loudly. As did my arches. ‘S okay, though, I’m going to try it again in about a month or so when I’m a little lighter. I’m hoping to meet up with a couple of other women in the area who are doing the Couch to 5K program as well and train with them. I’d like to enter some races eventually, just for the fun of it.

Right now…my biggest motivator is my trip to Australia and New Zealand next year. I want to be fit enough to do all the physical stuff…like hiking, scuba diving, etc. I definately have that in mind when I’m working out.

That, and pancakes with strawberries on top. Hahahaha!!

Seriously though. The trip is very real for me…not just a dream or something I’m just thinking about. So…yay!