Steady On

Hi dear friends who are traveling this journey with me! I've been out of the loop for over a week with computer problems but am back. I've missed so much!

Congratulations Shan on your fresh motivation and your diligence with a plan. You've been doing great with exercise and mapping your journey. It is so good to have a direction, goals, and motivation. I am inspired.

The contest looks really interesting. I'll think about it and decide. I'm going to Winnipeg from May 1- 6 so I wouldn't be able to begin until after that.
I don't know if I'll ever say I'm not going to eat, "this or that". As soon as I do that, I set myself up for failure because if I give in then I beat myself up. I try to avoid potatoe chips, ice cream, donuts and well...any high fat, low nutrition foods. Occasionally I do eat french fries, chips, chocolate, and ice cream because I really enjoy them. I try to do it as a reward and moderate my eating around any of those treats.

I read about nutritious foods, health magazines, and exercise regularily to remind me (consciously and subconsciously) to make healthy choices.

Belinda, way to go on your weight loss. Slow and steady wins the race.
I can totally relate to feeling flabby and uncomfortable with new clothes. As I break out my summer clothes, it's really discouraging. I hate the fact that my arms wave bye-bye every time that I do (if you get the flappy picture). My orange peel thighs look like 3-D topographical maps and my bum wiggles when I walk. To sum it up, I don't look great in a tank top or shorts above the knee.

I've been contemplating spending the next few months in capris, long skirts, and elbow-length tees. That's the bad news!

The good news is encouraging. I am down to 158 lbs. I broke the 160 lb. mark which is a psychological victory as well as a physical one. I have achieved a total weight loss of 11 pounds since I began March 1 (almost 7 weeks ago).

Last week I exercised 4 times which I was quite happy with based on the family schedule and Josiah breaking his arm. The week before I exercised 5 times.

I'm now doing 45 minutes of weights twice a week.
Walking for 45 minutes twice a week and
Walking with 2, 3-minute jogs over the 45 minutes (interval training) once a week

Up until the last 3 days I was doing really well on small portion sizes and regulating myself to proper "serving Sizes" as well as little snacking.
The past 3 days I've indulged in delicious home-made cookies, chocolate, and larger portions. I really feel the difference and ate a small supper tonight of carrots and an apple. If I am hungrier later I'll have a rye ryvita cracker (like melba toast) with cream cheese and salsa.

Short- Term Goals:

155 lbs. by May 1st which is 3 lbs. over the next 10 days.

150 lbs by June 1st (5 lbs. in 4 weeks)

145 lbs. by July 1st (5 lbs. in 4 weeks)

140 lbs. over July and August (5 lbs over the 2 summer mos.)

My ultimate goal is to be between 130-135 lbs. I've got between 23-28 lbs. to lose.

I would like to concentrate my energies on eating regular serving sizes and snacking occasionally. I want to be able to say, "I eat to live rather than I live to eat." which often times today is the case. As well I want to be able to develop a habit of walking 3 times a week and doing some resistance training twice a week as a lifestyle habit.


So I press on with all of you as we visualize being slim, trim, and fit.