November 2006, Weight Loss Journal
Updated July 28, 2007
2 November 2006
I survived Halloween. I let myself have one piece of each candy on Halloween night. Since then, I've barely craved it at all. Yesterday I allowed myself two pieces. Today I allowed myself one piece. I didn't even actually enjoy that one piece today, so I don't think it will be difficult to reject any more pieces for the next week.
I've been trying to come up with a workout routine that will give me variety, be flexible enough to adjust to unexpected changes in daily schedules, and intense enough to rev up my weight loss again.
Monday: danging / aerobics / jogging / brisk walking, weight lifting, stretching
Tuesday: yoga for flexibility and building heat
Wednesday: pilates for strengthening core muscles, stretching
Thursday: martial arts / jogging / brisk walking, weight lifting, stretching
Friday: yoga for flexibility and building heat
Saturday: playing with the kids, pilates for strengthening core muscles, stretching
Sunday: playing with the kids
6 November 2006
Weight: 175 (lost 25 lbs.)
BMI: 32.01
Still at 175. At least I didn't gain any weight. I actually saw the scale drop to 174 a couple times this week, and it didn't seem to be from dehydration, but it's the Monday weight that counts in the log books, so I don't get to celebrate yet.
I only did half of my workouts last week. I did one session of pilates, one session of weight training, and one yoga session (although not with a video). It isn't the full workout plan I had wanted to do, but it's better than nothing. Going for walks lately has been difficult because the rain has been so intense, and honestly it is difficult to drag myself out of bed.
I think the hardest thing about losing weight is habit. For me, breaking habits is the greatest challenge of all.
27 November 2006
Weight: 177 (lost 23 lbs.)
BMI: 32.37
I didn't write in my journal during the last two weeks because I was simply discouraged. It wasn't anything in particular that discouraged me. I just didn't feel like focusing on weight loss. I didn't work out as much as I should have, so I didn't lose any weight. I continued to weigh myself and I stayed at 175, at least until today.
During the last week, I gained two pounds. Thanksgiving! I'm not the slightest bit upset about it, though. I know I'll lose it. Interesting thing, though. I didn't eat nearly as much during the holiday week as I used to. This year, my splurging was actually very similar to the way I used to eat on any normal day last year. I ate a normal breakfast, had lunch, had a treat with lunch, had a treat for a snack, had dinner, and a late night snack. Normally during this time of year, I would gorge myself until I was so full I would feel sick. This year I just had more treats than I should have. I can't believe I used to eat like that every day. Oh, how things have changed.
I want to be 130 lbs. That's 45 lbs. away. Right now, I'm having a hard enough time losing 5 lbs., so 45 lbs. seems impossible at the moment.
I've already lost 23 lbs. (25 if I don't count this week's Thanksgiving hiccup). If I lose another 25 lbs. I'll be at 150 lbs. I know I can lose another 25 because I've already done it once. I could do it again, but I need to return to my previous mindset. I started my weight loss mission on January 1, 2006 at 200 lbs. I first hit 175 in May 2006. During the first five months of the year, when I lost those 25 lbs., I walked 30 minutes first thing every morning then did 30 minutes of strength training followed by stretching. I ate 1/2 c. of oatmeal with 1/4 c. of raisins and cinnamon for breakfast. I ate a small lunch under 400 calories. I had a 200 calorie snack three hours after lunch. I had a reasonable dinner with real portion sizes (not the large portions we're used to having in the USA), and I didn't go back for seconds. In the evening I drank caffeine-free teas instead of desserts or evening snacks.
Since May, I switched to a 1 hour walk in the evening and started having a bowl of cereal at 9pm. This was because the sun was up so late that I had a hard time falling asleep early enough to allow myself to wake up early enough to go for my morning walk, and staying up later left me feeling hungry in the evening. I'm guessing after all these months it's obvious that my evening snack just added all the calories back on after I walked them off, and my lack of strength training hasn't helped my metabolism. My summer method is good for maintaining weight, but it isn't effective for losing weight. It's time to go back to my winter routine.
This morning, I did my first morning walk since spring. It certainly took effort to pull myself out of bed before the sun was even over the horizon. I bundled up and walked out into the freezing air. I figured I would perk up within a few minutes of walking, but honestly I was so tired that even after my walk I was wishing I were back in my warm bed. I then cleaned the house, ate breakfast, woke up and fed the kids, checked my email, started writing this journal entry, did my 30 minutes of strength training and stretching while I watched television, took a shower, and went on with my day. I must say it is a very nice feeling to know that the exercise portion of my day is finished. Every other activity I do today is just a bonus. I think that's what makes the difference. When I don't exercise in the morning, I tend to procrastinate. Before I know it, the entire day has gone by and I'm too tired or busy to do a workout, but when I do it in the morning, it's done with. You can't procrastinate doing something that you've already finished. Plus, when I exercise in the morning, it sets the pace for the day. Instead of sitting behind the computer and working on projects most of the day, I actually want to get up and move more, creating more opportunities to burn of bonus calories.
I know I can lose another 25 lbs. I know I won't reach my goal of 160 lbs. by the end of 2006, but that's all right. At least I'm 25 lbs. lighter than I was at the beginning of the year, and even if it takes me another year, another two years, or even another ten years to get to my goal weight of 130, I'll do it.
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