I'm back! Jan. 21, 2011 224.5

Well, it doesn't look like I've made much progress in 7 months, does it. I'm pretty much the same weight as I was last summer. At least I didn't gain another 20-30 pounds like I've been doing over the last 3 years. My highest was 231 around New Year's Day. Last Tuesday I was 227.5. My goal is to lose 20 pounds by the JUGS spring show. 10 weeks away. This had been a good week so far, with the exception of Wed. night. I went a little crazy eating while fixing supper.

Yesterday was excellent. Good choices. Probably under 24 points. I'm not really keeping track of points, but mentally check to see where I'm at each day as a guide. Mostly I want to eat healthy, eat smaller portions, choose veggies and fruit before bread, drink water, pass up unhealthy food. I'm writing down each day's food and writing challenges and positives.

It has to be now. I'm 53 and don't want to spend the rest of my life fat. I want to wear fun clothes and more of a variety, instead of black pants, navy pants, brown pants, start over. Be positive. Today should be easy--the fish fry choices might be difficult, but I won't be home much. Stay busy tomorrow. Gone most of Sunday.

I haven't weighed under 225 since I had the flu in November. Goal: under 210 by the spring show.

Saturday, June 19

223 That number looks good to me on the scale. I've struggled this week with the same eating/snacking issues and ending up around 226. Last night I tried to put on my black capris and I don't think I could have got them to button. That's what I planned to wear for JUGS. So maybe one goal will be to wear them in 2 weeks for our concert July 1. I think I'd better get another pair just in case, but that would be pessimistic thinking.

I walked yesterday. It's definitely getting easier each day. I don't feel so clumsy with heavy feet as I did the first days. I know walking helps my stomach fat. So I've got to continue it. Maybe I will walk this morning. I think I have time before getting ready to go to Lindsay's wedding and to pick up Allison at the airport.

I had a good day of eating. Healthy choices. No mindless snacking. I know that it can only be up to ME to lose weight. I can't blame it on anyone else, that I can't go back to WW, that I can't follow my plan, that I can't make good choices. It's just ME who has to follow the plan, who has to make the good choices. It's up to ME to make the change. To plan for good meals and snacks, to bypass unhealthy food, to drink the water, to get myself out the door to walk. It's up to ME; it's for ME!

Today should be OK. Breakfast at home, lunch somewhere after we pick up Allison, supper at the reception, but I heard it won't be much food. Tomorrow morning--breakfast at the hotel. Make good choices!! Skip the donuts and muffins. Choose eggs, toast, cereal, fruit. It's simple--it is ME making the choice and putting the food on my plate and into my mouth.

Tuesday, June 15

225 :-( Not 100% yesterday. Had some M&Ms, cereal and rice krispie bar after muni band, some shoestring potatoes, sandwich cookie, toast and pb after muni band. Not sure how many points. didn't plan. Didn't track. Maybe only 4 cups water.

Good: walked on treadmill 40 minutes, good breakfast, morning snack, lunch, supper before JUGS.

Ways to improve: plan ahead, track, count points, planned snacks, don't eat late at night, try not to eat after 7 p.m., don't eat if it's not planned (toast, cereal).

Today: I plan to walk in Washington this morning, we'll be in Iowa City most of the day, healthy lunch--I'm planning on Subway, drink water! Plan for supper. Get groceries to have ingredients for tasty recipes. I need to be more exact. I think my metabolism has changed, that it won't be super easy to lose unless I'm 100% OP. I can do it! No reason not to. I don't like those old habits of eating at night, snacking during the day with unplanned snacks. So it's time to change. I can! It's up to me! Make it a good Tuesday.

Monday, June 14

(225/223/224--scale not consistent). Whatever I weigh, it's not good. Yesterday was not the best day. Good: breakfast, big salad for lunch, egg salad sandwich and apple salad for supper. Not good: didn't walk, cake/nuts/punch at anniversary reception, ate lots of chow mein noodles, M&Ms, sat around all day. I actually didn't overeat by that much. I think yesterday's weight was more a result of Thursday and Friday's successful days. Today's weight is a combination of Saturday evening and last night.

Anyway--remember to keep planning, keep tracking, keep drinking water, stay active.

Today I will plan out all my meals and snacks, drink 8 glasses of water, eat healthy meals and snacks, make a new recipe, walk 40 minutes on treadmill or track. Make this a good day. Make this a good week. I will not let yesterday pull me down. It is time for me to change my eating habits. Stay positive. Stay healthy. Reasons to lose: Panama, wearing shorts, having clothes to wear, going back to school, Mother and Daddy's 60th anniversary so I'm not the fat daughter, to feel better, maintain my health, to look and feel younger than 52, not older. It's time for a change. Have a good day! Have a good week!

Sun. June 13

222! Yeah! Good things yesterday: walked 40 minutes on treadmill (dripping with sweat), good breakfast, lunch, afternoon. But early in the evening I got bored and finished some leftover sterzing's, had some M&Ms, a cookie from the freezer, rice krispie bar. Ate chex mix, mints, cheese at Gwen's wedding reception. I don't know why I made those choices. I should have drank more water, had a planned snack and healthy supper.

Sat. June 12

224 Yesterday was another 100% day. Yeah! I walked 45 min. (hot!), made good choices with food, planned ahead, tracked everything, tried to stay busy in the afternoon cleaning the living room and mowing, drank 8 cups water, looked at new recipes.

I need to figure out what to do today to stay busy. Gwen's wedding reception is tonight. I want to make sure I have plenty of points to eat, but plan to make good choices there. It's not an excuse to go off program. I want to walk, but it rained a lot this morning. Maybe I'll drive down to the track or walk on the treadmill. Walking is not easy--I feel heavy, my shoes feel heavy. I'm really out of shape. But I have now walked 3 days in a row--probably more than I did all winter!

Make it a good day. Keep working on the changes: plan, track, drink water, no mindless eating, exercise, prepare good food.

Friday, June 11

224.5 Yesterday was a super day. Positives: walked 40 minutes, drank 6-7 cups water, 100% OP, tracked everything I ate, planned meals and snacks ahead, bought good things at the farmer's market (rhubarb, onions, cucumbers), bought good things at Hy-Vee (pwd. milk, water, lettuce, green peppers), made an apple salad, yummy chicken fajitas for supper, salad for lunch, yogurt and strawberries for snack, strawberry shake after muni band. Good day!

Today I walked 40-45 minutes after taking Allison to leave for her mission trip. I just made some rhubarb sauce that I'll add cool whip to. I plan to cook some eggs and cook the chicken breasts I got yesterday. I need to decide on something good for supper. Lunch will be the leftover fajita mixture, tossed salad, apple salad, and rhubarb sauce.

I plan to stay busy today: folding clothes, putting away winter clothes, getting out summer ones. I need to see if I have any shorts that fit that will look OK for summer. If it doesn't rain, I will probably mow. This will be another good day.