June 2006, Weight Loss Journal
Updated on July 28, 2007
12 June 2006
Weight: 178 (lost 22 lbs.)
BMI: 32.6
I gained a few pounds during the last week, but I'm fully aware why.
I was camping all last week (which is why I skipped my journal entry), and I had PMS, both of which make me crave junk food. I indulged on potato chips, cinnamon rolls, processed cheese, soda, and cookies. Each item would have made for a nice treat of the week, but I ate them every day, and I now have three extra pounds to show for it.
During the camping trip, I had planned on doing tons of hiking. That plan would have worked if my kids had also been thrilled by the idea. Unfortunately, when the kids wear out, I can't hike (unless I want to sit them on a rock alone in the wilderness, waiting for bears to find them, but I'm not that cruel). Thus, I didn't get to do as much as I had wanted. I could have gone hiking alone while my husband watched the kids, but hiking alone in the middle of a big forest usually isn't a good idea.
The week before the camping trip, I was still recovering from my tubal ligation surgery. I just wasn't feeling ready to do any major exercising. I didn't weigh myself after that week because I had started my camping trip, but I would suspect that I didn't gain much weight during that week of recovery.
I've been off my workout routine for a total of three weeks. After just that short time, I feel tired and stiff again. I certainly don't feel as bad as I did before I started working out and losing weight, but I don't feel as good as when I'm keeping up with my workout plan.
Today, I'm starting over by planning on doing a morning workout and an evening walk. I've decided to do a 15 minute jog on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings (or at least work my way up to it). On Monday and Wednesday, I'll do weight lifting after my jog. On Tuesday and Thursday, I'll do yoga (more intense than just daily stretches) after my jog. On Saturday and Sunday, I'll walk for 20 to 30 minutes in the morning. Every evening after dinner, I'll go for a walk (no time limits). I've already done my morning jog today, and I'm doing my weight lifting as soon as I finish this journal entry.
I'm also going to try to spend more time outside, working in the yard. Camping reminds me how much I love being in the outdoors, and I would enjoy my own backyard even more if I fixed it up (plus, gardening burns calories), so I'm scheduling in time every afternoon to get the kids outside to play while I work in the yard. I would love to make my yard a place where everyone love to spend time.
I'm also making a point to do a fun project with my kids every day. I think this will get all of us away from the television and teach us a few new skills. Plus, it's great for family bonding.
I'm going back to my healthy diet, and I'm going to make an effort to drink tons of water. I've realized that I'm usually dehydrated because I get dizzy when I stand up, and my skin tends to dry out. I'm hoping more water will help fix those problems in addition to helping me lose weight by optimizing my metabolism.
19 June 2006
Weight: 176 (lost 24 lbs.)
BMI: 32.2
Ah, I'm losing those vacation pounds. I knew I would, but it's still a nice feeling to do it.
I went jogging and did my weight lifting on Monday last week. I went for a walk and did some stretching on Tuesday. After that my morning routine fell apart. I did manage to go for a nice long walk most evenings though, and during the weekend the family went on a bike ride.
I know what the problem is with my morning routine, and it's all the sun's fault. The sun is up very late during the summer. It doesn't really get dark this time of year until 9 or 10 pm. This means that my body doesn't want to go to sleep until 11 pm or midnight, which means that I won't wake up until 8 am. Of course, by waking up at 8 am, I'm missing the window of time that allows me to exercise in the morning without my kids before my husband goes to work. My husband sometimes works at home as well as outside of the home, and his schedule varies, but there is an unspoken agreement that at 8 am, it's time for his work, so walking out the front door and leaving him with the kids would just be disrespectful.
So I'm thinking that I might just spend my mornings doing yoga and weight lifting, which I can do while watching my children, and restrict my kid-less activities to the evening. Plus, I can always spend more time being active with the kids during the day.
Meanwhile, my healthy diet is back on track, and I still get to have a treat here and there (homemade chocolate chip cookies this week).
24 June 2006
I'm feeling like I fell off track again. I got on the scale today and it said 180 lbs. Ok, so it was after dinner, at the end of the day, and not in the morning on an empty stomach, but that's still too much of an increase. I just keep hovering between 175 and 180 lbs., and it's all my fault.
To be absolutely honest, I just haven't felt motivated to do what needs to be done to lose weight. I've caught myself indulging in emotional eating on several days with the "I deserve to eat this" attitude. I've eaten out at restaurants more often than I should have, and I haven't been careful when I do. Instead of drinking water, I've been drinking juice and tea with sugar instead of stevia. I've not done any yoga or weight lifting this week. I have managed to go for my daily walks, but I've had to push myself to do it. Most of the time, I feel like I'd rather sit at home, working on my computer, reading, watching movies, and taking naps.
Ever since my surgery, I've just had a hard time dedicating myself to my diet and exercise. I feel like I lost my momentum, and on many days, I just don't care. I blame the weather. I blame events in life. I can't make excuses, though; excuses don't help me lose weight.
Stepping on the scale this evening was certainly motivating, though. After weighing myself, I immediately went out for brisk 40 minute walk, followed by some stretching, and some light strength training and stretching again. I hadn't been weighing myself every day, but I need to. Every single day, I need to get on that scale and remind myself that a little bit here and a little bit there adds up too much weight gain at the end of the week.
I need to remind myself how good it feels to watch the numbers go down, watch the inches disappear, feel my clothes get baggy, feel more attractive as my figure thins, have more energy, be proud of my athletic ability, and just be healthy.
26 June 2006
Weight: 177 (lost 23 lbs.)
BMI: 32.4
I gained 1 lb. since last week's weigh-in, but I plan to get rid of it, and possibly a few extra, this week.
I'm doing yoga every morning (e.g. power yoga, weight loss yoga, strength building yoga, etc.) and walking 40 minutes every evening. I'm only doing weight lifting sporadically while I try to find a routine that works best for my current lifestyle and motivation (something is better than nothing).
I have made a successful effort to drink more water, eat more fiber, and fill up on fresh fruits and vegetables. I'm once again cutting out sugar and sticking with stevia to sweeten my teas. I'm also reinstating the "no eating snacks after dinner" rule, since I would find myself binging around 9pm.
I keep thinking about why I suddenly went from 6 months of being ultra motivated to couch potato and emotional eater. I can only think that my surgery knocked me off track. The day before my surgery I was working out and loving it. The day after, I had to recover. The recovery period went on for two weeks before I was able to exercise normally, but even after those two weeks, I was used to sitting all day, so it was harder to get myself moving again.
I suppose I should have just forced myself to get up and exercise while doing things to keep me motivated, like going through photos and journal entries and watching fitness shows.
I think I also got comfortable with being in the 170's rather than the 200's. It certainly is an improvement, but it's just not good enough, and I can't just let myself say, "oh, I know I'm still fat, but I'm not as fat as I used to be, so I'll just stop." I need to get to that next 20 lbs. goal, 160 lbs. I'll look better. I'll feel better. I'll have pride in knowing that I've hit another major goal. I can take more progress photos for motivation (every 20 lbs.). 160 lbs. is also my half way point.
I wanted to reward myself with IPL (i.e. Photofacial, skin rejuvenation, etc.) on my face to combat the early stages of rosecea and all the sun damage I've had through the years. I don't know if I'll be able to completely afford it, but perhaps I can manage to pay for a session or two as an instant reward.
...by Feed