All my life I've struggled a bit with my weight. Even in High School, when I weighed 70 pounds less than what I do now... everyone else was skinnier than me. I've never been the girl who can show off her mid drift, but I've never really wanted to either. I was never very athletic and even though I'm way more active these days, I wouldn't call myself athletic. Athletes are able to maintain their physique because they play hard all week... I need to put some of that information to good use.
My diet has been just that... a diet, not a way of life. If I am not able to eat sweets or some of my favorite foods, I feel deprived, binge, feel guilty and give up. It's a vicious cycle that I just repeat and repeat and repeat. I need to make my eating part of my life style and figure out how to incorporate a few of my favorite foods in a healthy manner so that I can stick with something.
Since my twenty-third birthday (2003) I have slowly but surely started packing on the pounds. I'd go back and forth - losing some - gaining some... etc. Then, I fell in love with a man whose metabolism is so kind to him. We would go out to eat and not really exercise much at all. I didn't even pay attention. That's where all trouble lies - when you are oblivious or blind to what is happening to you. So, needless to say in the last three years I've gained about thirty of those extra seventy pounds just by being an unconscious eater.
I realized this about a year ago and started a new way of life where I didn't eat anything processed, but then somewhere along the way I ate something when I was out and about, felt guilty, binged, and fell off my non processed food path. I also felt I was depriving my Fiance, Paul, of what he wanted to eat. He assures me he enjoys the healthy food much better than all the sweets and chips that his tummy craves sometimes. Still, it's hard to believe. Only because I have a bad thinking process when it comes to food. Healthy food - yuck. It doesn't have to be that way and I've created many amazingly delicious recipes that are healthy and delicious. Why is this stigma in my head?
This Saturday, I embark on a 7 week program which (if I dedicate myself to the process) will help me lose between 20-30 pounds by my 30th birthday. Seems like a lot, but my body isn't used to having all this weight and if I begin working at it, the first 10 pounds should fall off pretty quickly. That's usually how my body works. So, I should be able to lose between 3-4 pounds a week.
THE PLAN:
FOOD...
I plan on eating three meals a day plus two snacks. Drinking 4 bottles of water a day and limiting my wine intake to one glass when we go out on Thursdays for Karaoke. My meals will consist of the following:
Breakfast: 1 cup of cereal (Special K or Honey Bunches of Oats - something grainy) with 3/4 cup of Fat Free Milk
AM Snack: Banana
Lunch: 1 cup salad (lettuce, cucumbers), fat free dressing, 3 slices of all natural turkey lunch meat
PM Snack: Apple
Dinner: 1 protein (Salmon, Chicken), Steamed Zucchini & Cabbage, 1/2 cup of Cous Cous (for some grains)
Dessert: 1 Oreo Cookie & 1/2 cup of Fat Free Milk
EXERCISE...
My biggest setback is skipping a workout. If I would just get out there and do it, I would thoroughly enjoy it, but the getting out the door for a run is the hardest part. I love to run and swim! I plan to do both every single day - Monday - Friday & on Saturday - Hike! Sunday will definitely be a day of rest unless we feel like going for a walk somewhere.
MONDAY - FRIDAY:Swim 1 hour in the AM. Run/Walk combo 1 hour in the PM.
SATURDAY:
Hike Bishop's Peak which take approx. 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
SUNDAY:
Light walk, leisurely - cannot OVERDO IT... Need just one day of rest. So important for your muscles!
I will be researching other ways to make my meals more interesting and I'll post the recipes as I find them. The most important thing is not to get BORED or feel OVERWORKED. If you're body is aching and you're exhausted, scale back the swim and run/walk combo to about 30 minutes each. Do what feels good for you. If you don't have a pool you can swim at - try some form of exercise in the morning that burns at least 300 calories and then do the run/walk combo in the evening which will burn about 500 calories depending on how much you run.
I am starting this blog as a way to keep myself accountable. To have eyes watching my progress and keeping me in check. I cannot waiver this time. This is a new way of life, not a diet. Just repeat that a couple time.... Lifestyle not a diet.
Here is my BEFORE picture: (Argh... I used to fit comfortably in that shirt... I will again...)
In 8 weeks, I'll put this outfit on again and show you my progress.
I weigh: 238 Lbs
GOAL Weight:
After 7 weeks - Between 215 - 209 Lbs
Long Term Goal: 170 Lbs
My Measurements are: Chest - 42", Waist - 39", Hips - 45", Thigh - 28", Arm - 13"
(hopefully I keep my chest measurements, but I'm sure it'll be the first thing to go :) :) :) )
The thing I've learned is that hopping on the scale every single day is foolish. It can be frustrating and then TOO rewarding at times. You think - sweet I lost 12 pounds and you feel TOO good about your accomplishment and get a little lax. I plan on NOT looking at the scale or doing my measurements again until the end of the first week of October. It'll be my half way point and that's when I'll finally see the numeric progress I've made.
I'm not vain... I don't care if you know all this about me. I need to see it on the screen and feel accountable. Need some support here... It's been a BATTLE lately. I'm ready for the war to be over - here comes the work, but I'm ready for it!
I love who I am - just don't always love what I see... but I'm ready to find the healthy me!
SEE YOU AT THE POOL!!!
