End of week 33

I've noticed a pattern in my weight loss over the past couple of months, and for some reason this week within each month is always the toughest. Every four weeks for the past 16 I've either gained or stayed the same during this week. I can't seem to find anything that sticks out as to WHY this happens, but knowing the pattern definitely helps to ease the pain...that and the fact that I've successfully now lost 78 pounds, and am feeling good mentally and physically.

The unfortunate part, is I only have 3 weeks now to reach my first big goal of 90 pounds, which is not unachievable...but will certainly be difficult with a no loss week here. I'm staying positive though, and sticking with everything as I know that even if I don't lose the 90 by the 23rd, I'm not far away!

School is starting up again for me this week, so things are about to get very busy in my life again, which will be a true test to my willpower and ability to stick to my eating and exercising routines.I'm hoping that it actually helps more than it hurts as I'll be staying busy and active by running around all the time. I'm excited to see the finish line for my first big goal...and I'm excited to make a new goal by the end of the year...which I have not decided on yet, but am going to finalize by the time I meet this big goal...until then!

2 months...make a big difference...

Well, maybe not a big difference, but a difference nonetheless. I'm finally down 73 pounds, and only 5 weeks left in my initial goal setting. I'm getting pretty nervous about meeting my first big goal of 90 pounds, but I'm going to keep pushing hard towards it, and see what happens! I'm still very happy to have turned 27, and be at a weight that is less than I have been in at least 8 years, if not more.

I've moved up to 5-6 workouts per week now. Typically 50 minute workouts, with usually a bigger "push" one of the days. I'm also around 1800 calories per day as my food goal. I'm starting to have to make some different decisions in my eating habits, but increasing my work out time along the way has definitely proved to be helpful as well.

One concern I do have, is how things will change once school starts up again in 2 weeks. Less time for me, and needing to adjust when I do my workouts again might prove to be a challenge. I have been doing my workouts primarily in the evening, but will likely need to move back to waking up early before work to get my workouts in. Overall I've been very proud of myself, but my weight loss continues to be somewhat up and down. My body does seem to catch up eventually, even if I do have a "bad" week.

Here's looking forward to meeting my goal...hopefully in 5 weeks, but definitely soon! Cheers to feeling healthier and happier!

Gym thoughts

So tonight I went to the gym and I have found I really like going to the gym at different times becuase I run into so many different people. Usually when I go in the morning, I see some combination of the same 5 or 6 people...so night time visits are especially intriguing.

Tonight, a few minutes after I started a couple walked in the door, I'm guessing in their mid-40s. The woman went on the elliptical, and the man went on the treadmill. The woman struck me as a target to watch becuase she looked like she had put on her makeup, and done her hair specifically for this gym visit. She of course rarely "worked out", and was only on the machine for about 10 minutes (the man as well), and then they moved to some of the weight equipment.

They continued to switch off on machines, and at one point I was next to the man, who was wearing so much cologne I almost started choking.

My question is as it often is...REALLY? I mean, of the places that you should be dressed up, made up, and smelling well...the gym doesn't seem the place. I guess maybe I just think of it as a different thing, but I go to there to sweat and get a good workout, not a casual place to go spend some time watching the t.v.'s and mildly rotating on the equpment.

I guess, good for them for at least showing up to the gym, and thanks for the people watching entertainment!

Meals out..

Another dinner date looms in the corner as I am going to meet a friend for some delicious Mexican food tomorrow evening. Let's face it I LOVE to eat. Always have, always will...but as I've learned along the way it's all about making better, even if they are not the best choices in my meals. I find it funny how quickly you can actually change some of your habits. I find myself often opting for Jimmy John's "hunters club unwich w/o mayo" & even with the Thinny Chips the meal is under 600 cals and fills me up and is something I crave. I also go to Subway a lot, which has the benefit of also being relatively inexpensive, fresh, and quick. I don't often wait in lines at Arby's, McDonalds, or Taco Bell...but I'd be lying if I said I never did.


Earlier this week I even went to Pizza Hut's buffet, but made a nice simple caeser salad, a small serving of cottage cheese, the equivalent of 1 breadstick, 2 slices of thin sausage/mushroom pizza and a little marinara sauce. I find it amazing because in the past I would have gobbled down 3-4 pieces of thick crust pizza (at least), as many breadsticks as I could and who knows what else...rarely making a salad along the way. I'm not saying eating at the buffet is a good, every day activity, but I definitely notice changes when I go to log my food for a meal and I believe that is something to be proud of.


I've found that saying no cheese, sour cream, etc. can be hard to do at a Mexican restaurant, but it is a real savior on calories overall, and I find the the trade off well worth it. Tomorrow I'll probably go with fajitas, filled with veggies and can be low on the carbs and additionally taking the sour cream and cheese to the mix will help to keep it a better choice, and I'll offset it with some good choices during the day to still make my daily goal. Mentally keeping myself in check and the use of logging my food has made me very aware of what I can even "expect" to be in a food that I eat. Sometimes I'm off, but just like being at the store I'm continually ringing up my points along the way in hopes of not going over my "budget".

Another week...

Exhaustion has been the story of my life for the past couple weeks. I think stress is a HUGE factor in this, and unfortunately I let it temporarily interrupt my exercising routines. This week I went up a pound from the prior week, and really think that falling out of my routine for the past week or two has been a part of it. I have gotten in exercise for the past 4 days though, and I'm going to make a promise to myself to get either my workout or some other exercise in at least 4 out of the 5 days this work week. It's going to be tough because I do have a lot going on early in the week, but I think that working out helps to keep my energy as well and hopefully will help me power through the week!


I was very disappointed this week as it was the first time I gained a pound since I started, but at the same time I think I can use it as a motivation to get back on track. My dress has come in for the wedding, and I'm hoping to pick it up later this week or next week, so it will be exciting to see how that goes. My dress was bought off the size I was in March, which has changed since then.


I've also noticed my water intake was decreasing (particularily when I am at home as I just don't think about it), so I am trying hard to make sure I stay well hydrated, especially as the weather starts to get warmer and I'll need that extra hydration.


Overall, while I was disappointed about my week, I have somewhat put it behind me and I have my eyes set on my next weigh in on Friday. I know I can make it up along the way, just have to work a little harder!

Exercise

I'm starting to find it hard to incorporate more into my workouts. I started off walking on the treadmill 20 minutes and worked my way up to 30 minutes and some weight lifting by the end of my first 9 weeks. Then, I moved to the elliptical and added more weight training. I'm now at a point of trying to figure out if I need to vary my intensity of the cardio, or if I should switch it up. I've moved up to 30 minutes as of yesterday on the elliptical, and think that by continuing to increase the resistance & incline that I can really get more out of my workouts. I've also started doing almost 15 minutes of weight training to most workouts. At this point I don't want to spend more time at the gym, so I'm hoping to see results by working on the intensity. We shall see!r

Start of Week 20

Eventually I wanted to be able to have a record of my progress and thoughts/challenges along the way to a healthier life and habits.

Earlier this year I setup goals for myself as I have a wedding I am in, in September. Knowing I wanted to do better things for myself and having a goal to attain has really been motivating to me so far. I weighed myself on January 15th, and that was my starting weight, with my official "weigh in" happening every Friday starting with week 1 on January 21st. 

I put together 9 week goals, as there were 4 sets of  "9 weeks" until the wedding I will be attending. My overall goal is to lose 90lbs. in 9 months. 

In the first nine weeks I had intended to lose 30 lbs, thinking that it would drop faster early on, with 20 lbs being the goal for each succeeding 9 week period. 

I did not meet my first goal, but came very close by losing 27 lbs. that first 9 weeks. The second nine weeks (which just ended on May 20th,) I had lost another 22lbs. 

My plan has been very simple, tracking all the food I eat, along with regular exercise. I track all my food, fitness, and my weight on Livestrong.com, and it has been a great way to stay accountable and stay motivated as well. Livestrong.com automatically adjusts my calorie goals based off my current weight and my goals for weight loss.

While weight loss is not easy, I've found the biggest challenge to be that my weekly loss can vary greatly even when sticking to my plan and following my routine. I have continued to lose weight every week, even with small losses of a pound. I have a long road to go, and even once I reach my September goal I will have more to achieve, but I've already felt successful so far in the journey and look forward to continuing to see results and become more active and healthy.


I intend to update every so often, especially as milestones occur. Here's to a healthier life!