Springing into Spring Challenge

Okay!  It is time to challenge myself again!  Springing into Spring Challenge  goes from the first week of Spring  ( March 20) and will be over the week of Memorial Day (May 30).  This is a total of 9 weeks.   The goals of this challenge will be to lose at least 25 pounds. 

Since the beginning of the year- which is about 3 months, I have been fluctuating with my weight and have not gained or lost anything significant.  This is  either a plateau or it is a result of some stress that has been going on with circumstances surrounding my life.  Either way I want to break through this and get the scale moving down again. 

I have discovered over the past year that I am an emotional eater. This leads me to believe it is the stress in my life and not a plateau that is affecting my journey.  I need to be more mindful and deal with my issues without food.  I also need to take care of the stress with exercise and restful sleep.   I discovered last year that if I get a good night's sleep of 7- 8 hours I lose more weight.  I also learned that sugary foods gave me cravings for more sugary foods, so it is best to avoid them. 

During the next 9 weeks in the Springing into Spring Challenge, I will:

• be aware of and drink more water 
• exercise-  walking and strength training 
• be more mindful of food choices 

FAQ : National Body Challenge : Discovery Health

FAQ : National Body Challenge : Discovery Health

One way I have kept myself accountable is by joining the National Body Challenge.(Click on the link above to check it out for yourself!)  The site is free and has menus with recipes, and exercise routines. It lets you check in with your weight so you can keep track of your progress over time. The challenge goes for an 8 week period and after that you can sign up again if you choose.

Week 52 - A Year Gone By

Last January I began this blog with my resolution to eat more healthy and try to lose some weight. I invited any readers to share the journey with me as I had successes and failures along the way.  I haven't written much on here since fall because my work has been very busy and I have also been taking a class.  I have still been trying to eat better and lost weight.   I have new goals to be making for the new year,but will address those another day.    For the year 2010, I am pleased to say that I have lost approximately 120 pounds.    It has been difficult, but the hardest was the first few months while getting my cravings under control.  Most of my eating is emotional too.  I haven't documented this journey in pictures the way I wish I had, but here is some pictures taken a year apart..... 



November 2009



November 2010



My Summer Update

My Summer Challenge was a 10 week challenge beginning June 11 and ending August 13.  My goal is the lofty goal of losing 30 pounds.  

As of July 16, I have lost about 18 pounds leaving about a month left to go on the challenge and 12 pounds to reach the 30 pound mark.  I may or may not make it.  It will be close.

This summer I got a little stuck and have been wavering within a 7 pound range for awhile.  These are my thoughts on this.

1. During the summer months, my schedule is much more relaxed and food including snacking, is much more accesible to me. It is much easier to grab something to eat.  Or should I say it is much harder to resist the temptations. 
2. I took a couple of trips and when my routine is upset I tend to eat differently.  I either get vey hungry and eat poor choices or I eat too much.  I find when I am with groups of people ( friends, family) I will eat because it is time to eat not because I am hungry.  I will also eat emotionally, not for fuel.    
3. It is time that I step/ramp it up and get a regular exercise program in place. I have been exercising but it has not been regular.   This is a place where I need more discipline and self control. 

Even so, I have been losing, just at a little slower rate than before.  My hopes for losing greater amounts and becoming fit and tone over the summer didn't manifest this summer because you need to do the work to see the results!   :)  But that is okay because I am a work in progress and I am still working on myself. 

One thing I have to be very careful of is becoming too proud.  Pride goeth before a fall as the Bible says and I also found that people, especially if they havent seen in awhile, are noticing and complimenting my weightloss.  I have to be careful not to let it go to my head.  Yes, I am proud of my accomplishments but I also have more to go.   And pride is one of my weaknesses, as God knows.  So I ask His help to keep me humble and keep me focussed on the prize-- a healthy body. 

It's Been a Long time

I haven't been posting here much.  Right now I am in the middle of my Summer Challenge.  and I am about halfway there both in time and in pounds.  I will be more specific later-- I dont have it handy at the moment and I wanted to update the blog.  I have continued to be aware of what I am eating and trying to make better choices.  I really do not deny myself, but find that my tastes are changing.  I try to average losing about 2 - 3  pounds a week which translates to about 10 pounds a month. 

The more difficult part is the exercise piece.  Frankly I just dont like to sweat!  I have been doing some exercise but it is not consistent and it is not a habit.  I am quick to make excuses.  It is too hot.  It is too humid. 
I have been averaging about 2 - 4 times a week.   These are the things that I have been  doing.  Not each one every day, but if I dont do the one I will try to do the other.  

1. Walking outside -  A friend and I walk a mile , usually in the evenings 
2. Wii Fit Plus 
3. Leslie Sansone DVD Walking 

I need to get more consistent and I need to stop making the excuses.  But really---it is so hot & humid out!  Who really wants to get all hot and sweaty ?    I also need to figure out how I am going to fit in the exercise when my schedule becomes more busy in a few weeks and I do not have the flexibility that I have right now.    Those are the things that I need to be thinking about right now.  

   

Week 9 of the Challenge

I met my goal!   Although I haven't listed my weekly weigh in the last couple weeks, I have met my goal of losing 20 pounds in these 9 weeks by 10 pounds.  I have lost 30 pounds.   While I am glad to have lost the 30 pounds, I realize that I do not want to lose weight too fast and need to be sure to lose slowly. 

I went back for my doctor visit and my blood pressure and blood sugar checked out well.  He would like me to continue to eat healthy and try to lose 4 - 5 pounds a month.  I would like to try for a little more than that, but maybe not more than that.  

I havent set a goal yet for myself , but I am thinking I need to work on an a physical goal-- exercise --ugh.    I need a few days to think about it.  Any ideas?

Week 6 - 7 Weigh In

weight loss this 2 weeks  - 4
total weight loss this challenge week 7 / 9  - 19

Last Friday I actually had gained a pound.  But by Saturday the pound and another had dropped off.  That just goes to show that weight fluctuates by the day.  It is better to weight by the week or better yet go by the way you feel or the way your clothes fit than by what the scale says. 

The two week weigh in was actually closer to 4 and a half pounds, but whose counting....me!   ;) 
More people have said things to me about losing weight.  Nothing dramatic--just a subtle noticing.  That is nice.  I still really don't feel any different, but I have noticed a little difference in the car with the seatbelt.

The challenge is over in another two weeks.  I am nearly at the goal I set.  I hope to keep it up!