Fire Up For Fall

I am taking the plunge and joining a group challenge this fall. Fire Up For Fall begins Monday, September 19 and will last for 10 weeks. 
This is how it works:

• Go to Weight War's blog to sign up   
• Set at least 5 goals to work towards over the 10 week challenge
• Every week answer questions that are sent out through your blogging  
• Each week post a positive picture that sums up the positive parts of the week 

I think this will be a fun way to stay accountable and also help me to break the plateau that I have been surfing in the last few months.

Simmering Summer Challenge Week 2

SSC - Week 2 Weigh- In

Week 2:  -2

Dropping these 2 pounds wasn't easy. I fought cravings everyday.  When I first began this journey ( January 2010 ) I had cravings for 2 -3 months before they subsided to nearly nothing.  They started out strong then slowly dwindled.  I hardly thought about food.  But this week I found myself desiring the taste of foods.  Not really hunger--stomach was fine-- but I wanted the food in my mouth and I wanted to taste it, chew it and finish it off.  I believe this can be attributed to emotional eating - stress, boredom, anxiousness, etc. 

The most difficult time -- my weakest time to give in to the cravings is in the late evening.   I am happy that I lost 2 pounds.  That is my weekly goal, but that still puts me behind for my monthly goal.  I need to try to make up a couple pounds if I want to hit my challenge target. 

Stars for the Week: 

• I went to the gym and worked out 4 out of 5 days this week.  On the 5th day I mowed my yard in 95 degree heat and humidity like a sauna, so I will consider that a good workout as well!  It was well over an hour of cardio.    
• I was more mindful of my food choices.  I didn't sit and just stuff my face.  I knew and made a conscious decision to eat that extra slice of pizza on Wednesday and the brownie on Thursday.  But I also resisted getting ice cream all week.  It was a struggle! 

Steps for next Week:

1. Continue to make mindful healthy choices to help me pass though this cravings stage.
2. Do not weigh myself more than 3 times, so I become number obsessive.
3. Drink more water to help with the cravings and any hunger.

How is your week going? 

Simmering Summer Challenge Week 1

SSC - Week 1 :  Weigh - In

Week 1:  + 4 pounds 
I am pretty disappointed in myself.  I struggled this week to keep to most of my action plans. 

• Some of my sleep was interrupted with insomnia.  My plan is to try and be in bed by midnight, but even as I write this post it is after midnight.  This is an area I will keep working on. 
• I think I was mindful as I ate this week, but I had a difficult time controlling my indulgences. I found myself wanting to snack - usually late at night.   The thing is--I don't think I am hungry.  It is a desire of the mouth, not of the stomach, if that makes sense.  Almost a stress reliever too.  This is something I have to analyze and be more diligent about.  I need to be stronger in this area. 
• I didn't write anything down.  Probably because I knew I wasn't eating right.
• I did not go to the gym even once this week.  They were closed on Monday, the 4th of July, and the other days I just blew it off.  This is another area I need to analyze a bit more.  I have been going with a friend and it seems that it is easier for me not to go when I go with a friend.  The opposite of the whole psychology of having a friend for accountability. 

I had planned to write more often this week and I didn't.  It is almost liked I have rebelled.  From the Friday to Tuesday, July 5  I had gained 7 pounds.  This in part was Independence Day celebration foods and ice cream cravings.   Some had to be water gain or hormonal though. The rest of the week I spent trying to lose the weight.  By Friday, I got down 3 pounds so that I was only 4 pounds up from the previous week.  *sigh*   

This weekend I haven't eaten well either.  But I am cleaning out the refrigerator and cabinets of foods that will sabotage me tomorrow.  I am going to go to the gym at least 3 times this coming week.  Hopefully I can make up the lost ground.

Simmering Summer Challenge 2011

It is time for a Simmering Summer Challenge! 

I am going on a trip in August and I have 5 weeks to work on this challenge before I head off to sunny Greece!

My goal for these 5 weeks is to lose 10 pounds and become more fit & tone.  I will lose some inches since June 27th when I last measured myself.   I will weigh myself on Fridays with the weigh-in dates being:

• Week 1: July 8
• Week 2: July 15
• Week 3: July 22
• Week 4: July 27
• Week 5: Aug. 5

To accomplish this I will do the following:

1. Get at least 7 hours of sleep a night at decent hours. I tend to get off-balanced especially during summer months, so I will try to go to bed by midnight.
2. Do not deny myself any food, but eat mindfully and make healthy choices.  This will mean having a plan to help avoid eating without thinking. For me this will look like few processed foods and little sugar.
3. Be sure to get enough protein.  I found previously that if I did not eat enough, I would not lose weight. Keeping some type of food journal is important. 
4. Stay hydrated.  This means water mostly, coffee and tea.  The more water the better.  Often times we think we are hungry, but really we are thirsty.
5. Incorporate exercise and movement.  Ideally 5 - 6 times a week, but lets be happy with going to the gym at least 3 times a week.  The 6 times can be things done at home - walking, playing, doing wii fit, mowing, etc.  

I will add more tomorrow about my strategies and my story to date.  How do you plan to stay on your weight loss journey this summer?  

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