Joined the gym!

Well, my running has been non-existant this year. I've had a couple of hiccuped starts, but always stopped because it's too cold or too dark. Soon it will be too hot. Thinking back, when I first started running, I had a 10 minute commute to work and no warm husband to cuddle in the morning (best time to run). Now it's a lot harder to get up early.

Scott's work has a huge, very nice gym. We finally got around to getting me an access card for it. We've gone twice so far, Monday and Wednesday. The first time I tried out an elliptical (too scared to get on the treadmill). It didn't feel like much of a workout compared to running. Right before we left, I decided to be brave and try the treadmill. It wasn't nearly as scary as I expected.

Last night I went right for the treadmill. I did a 5 minute (1/4 mile) warm up walk and then sped it up to a breathless 13:30 minute mile. I was able to sustain that for 1.5 miles before deciding to go back to walking and cool down. Overall, I did 2 miles in about half an hour. I plan to aim for at least 2 miles 3 times a week until I feel comfortable working up to more.

I've also been journaling WW points for the last two weeks with a devastating hiatus over the weekend. I took Friday off to go riding and made my way to Pickett House in Woodville, TX for lunch. Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and peach cobbler are not conducive to weight loss. On Saturday, I met up with several friends to go out to dinner at Sambuca before seeing "Billy Elliott" at the Hobby Center. The crab stuffed salmon entree was fairly healthy, but the crab bisque soup and sticky caramel bread pudding a la mode most definitely were not!

It's now Thursday and I've finally worked myself back down into the 170s (179.0) and planning to be better this weekend.

One more item of pride. I haven't bought Girl Scout cookies in years, but I'd been dreaming about them lately. They were setting up a stand as Scott and I walked into the supermarket last Sunday. He saw the look on my face and handed me a twenty (I don't usually carry cash). On the way out, I picked up 4 boxes (note the restraint, they're only $3.50 per box). 5 days later, I've had exactly 4 cookies (Lemonades - yum!) and noted each serving faithfully in my journal. Scott tends to go through cookies like a monster, but he's been good about only touching them when I'm having a serving. These 4 boxes will probably last over a month at this rate.

Update

I tend to go all quiet when the weight loss isn't going my way (ie down).

Well, back on Thursday, April 22, the hotel that I've been working on for the last two years had it's grand opening celebration and I was invited! (this doesn't usually happen)

Scott and I also obtained tickets to the big ($250/plate, thanks boss!) dinner honoring donors and alumni.

OMG

OMG

OMG that food was good.

The scale was not kind that next day. I spent the last week coming down from that and am finally back in the 160s again. At 168.6, I'm at a new low for this iteration of weight loss and am 4 lbs down. Only one pound to go for my Vegas goal!

I'm Back!

...in the 160s! 169.6!

I got down to about 164 before the holidays last year. It's good to know that my low is just about 5 lbs away. Sure, that's probably a long hard month away, but it seems so much more attainable when I'm in the same weight decade!

Tuesday Weigh In

At 170.4, I'm down 2.2 from Friday, when I started this iteration of the "diet". Overall, down 20.8 lbs.

It has only been a few days, but I'm feeling successful already. I really hope this isn't just some natural body weight fluctuation and I'm going to find my weight back up for no good reason tomorrow morning.

I'd sure like to ditch these pesky 170s.

Counting Points

It sure is nice to have a supportive partner.

We behaved over the weekend and both of us lost weight. I think our main strategy is going to be to massively cut down dinner. We love my cooking, but it does tend to add up calorically.

I started formally counting WW points on my custom spreadsheet this morning. I've essentially finished the day with 4 points to go (goal is 0-5 with higher being better), so I'll count it a success.

On to tomorrow!

New Goal - With a Time Limit...

OK,

So he proposed a week ago. We haven't set a date yet, but it's probably going to be July or August.

I'm also going to Las Vegas (the annual convention trip) in about a month.

It's time to face the fact that I'm up about 10 lbs from my low.

Let's see if I can lose 5 lbs by Vegas and then go from there...

I'm currently at 172.6. That makes it a goal of 167.6 by May 18.

Tuesday Weigh In

165.2 this morning. 26 lbs total loss. I'll give a weekly loss starting next week.

I'm up .4 from yesterday, but I'm blaming the salty dinner. Apparently that boxed asparagus risotto is NOT improved by adding a chicken boullion cube to the water.

New Year, New Start, Same Goals!

It wasn't a horrible break, really. No scorched earth, no bingeing on piles of gooey sweetness. I gained roughly one pound over the holidays. Not bad at all. I'll do an official weight tomorrow (Tuesday).

But I'm back now! I'm ready to lose that last 20 lbs to get down to normal weight.

I've got some goals for this year:
- 145 lbs (down 20)
- A race (5k/10k/HM) at least every other month (or at least 6 this year)
- Get back on my bicycle and train for at least one longish bicycle race/ride

My initial plan is to start loosely counting points and being disciplined in my eating (breakfast, lunch, snack) at work. I've moved into a new living situation which will require development of a new low-points dinner strategy (cooking for 2!).

I'm also going to reboot my running schedule. I haven't run regularly in the the past month, so my first goal is to get back into shape for a 5k at the end of January/beginning of February. I'll freeze/run tomorrow morning.

W7D2

It was supposed to be an easy 2 mile run. Handling two excited, tugging dogs was a little more tiring than I expected. Was a nice sunny morning on the golf course though. I think I'm really going to enjoy my new jogging trail.

Also, new low this morning. I hit 163.2, an overall loss of TWENTY-EIGHT (28) POUNDS!

WOOHOO! That's almost "round-able" to 30!

Week 33 Weigh In

164.6 this morning, putting me down 0.2 lbs for the week. I'm at 26.6 total loss. It sure would be nice to start losing again...

My goal of being in the 150s for Thanksgiving is pretty hopeless at this point. I'm still proud of my progress, but it would have been awesome to hit that number.

Going Low!

Let's not talk about running this week. The weather is gorgeous, but I haven't made it outside much. Very busy between moving and meetings.

But I do have a new low to report! I'm at 163.8 this morning! Woo!

Week 32 Weigh in

yay! That pesky pound I gained last week came right off. I'm once again at 164.8, 26.4 lbs total loss.

Now if I could just drop into the lower half of 164...

Prom Dress is nowhere close to fitting

*sigh*. I was going through my closet tonight and tried on my high school prom dress for the first time this year. There's still a good 2" gap at the top 1/3rd of the zipper. Looks like I'm not going to be sporting it at any of this year's holiday parties.

I'll get there. Maybe next year.

Week 31 Weigh in

I'm up a pound this week, at 165.8 *cries* (durn halloween!). Total loss at 25.4 lbs

Week 30 Weigh in

Finally some progress! I'm again at 164.8 this morning, a loss of 0.8 for the week, 26.4 overall.

Plodding along

I equaled my current low this morning: 164.8. I'm happy to see that number again, but I have little confidence that I'll be significantly past it anytime soon.

Thinking back, I've always had trouble in the 160s. I was in the 160s when I left college in 2002. I was also in the 160s when I tried Weight Watchers again in 2004. I stopped my last bout with paid Weight Watchers when I'd been on it for a couple of months and had no progress out of the 160s.

This time it's different. The scale isn't moving, but I have no plans to give up. If I keep doing what I'm doing, it WILL move. It will! I just need to be patient and follow my plan.

Week 29 Weigh in

Another week of little progress. I'm at 165.6, 0.2 lbs down, 25.6 overall loss.

I'm starting to feel like I'm not going to lose anything substantial in October. I've been faithfully avoiding all donuts, desserts, and halloween candy that has shown up at work. I'm eating mostly on plan with a couple of looser (but not overboard) nights each week. My running is going great.

*shrug* I guess it'll drop when it drops. I'll just keep doing what I'm doing.

*EDIT*

Keep doing what I'm doing except for one thing.

I admit it. My water consumption has dropped off. I'm going to make it a goal this week to drink 3 full bottles of water each day at work. And then work hard at keeping fluid consumption up this weekend...

W4D1

Got up at 6 AM this morning to run 3 miles, mostly in the dark. Lucy was thrilled to see that the armadillos were out again. The jr high marquee said 80°.

Also, new low on the scale. At 164.8, I've dipped my toe into the bottom half of the 160s.

Week 28 Weigh In

No change this week. I'm again at 165.8, 25.4 lbs overall loss.

Week 27 Weigh in

Finally! At 165.8, I'm down 1.2 for the week, 25.4 total loss. It's so nice to be moving again after 2 weeks of maintaining.