A Brand New Day, Accountability, or at least I'm Back!

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

The past few months have not been nice to me and I have not been nice to my weight loss plan. I should have dropped about 70 lbs by now, but I am still at the same 25 (give or take a couple) that I was at in November. I did resign myself to maintain through the holidays, and I chose to look at that as a victory over the usual weight gain. However, I had a much harder time getting back on track than I thought I would.

So many things have played a part in this journey. Family issues, a horrible snowed in winter, and a general lack of drive, but now I'm through making excuses and I'm back to work. I had quit tracking, but I was still trying to be conscious of what I ate. That translated into a maintained weight (I fluctuate up and down a couple of pounds) but no weight loss.

I am going to be more diligent about tracking now, and I am going to start blogging again. I feel like it helps me stay accountable and also offers me the support I need from other partners on this journey. I'm also not going to mourn the 45 pounds I should have lost by now. If I did that I'd have to go all the way back to the 100 I shouldn't have gained in the first place right? Instead I'm moving forward...one day at a time...baby steps...and all that jazz. So instead of signing off, I'll just say that my story is to be continued...

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

LOSEITSUSIE 4/21/2010 9:59AM

You can do it--be focused and go forward...Even though life sometimes throws you for a loop, remember that YOU are as important as anything else. I am proud of how you and your family have taken this on... Go, Cardonas, Go! Be proud! Love you, Susie Report Inappropriate Comment

AMARIN4 4/7/2010 7:13PM

I'm in the same boat. I lost 25 lbs for my vacation and now I'm lacking the motivation to keep going so I am restarting my weight loss journey too! Good luck! Report Inappropriate Comment

HUSBANDANDDAD 3/30/2010 11:16AM

You can do it! Report Inappropriate Comment

Is the Goal 1/2 Met or 1/2 Missed???

Friday, December 04, 2009

Around Black Friday, Al was digging through all of the sale ads and talking about some of the deals that were being offered. One of the ones we were most interested in was a deal that the movie theater was offering. It seems you could buy a $25 gift card and get 4 more free tickets. However, anything that seems too good to be true usually is, and the catch was that the "free" admissions were in February to special "family" movies, i.e. old stuff my kids don't want to go see.

I always have been a pessimist about Black Friday sales, and I asked Al if he was thankful that he was married to a pessimist. He said sometimes he was and sometimes he wasn't. I won't get into the debate we had about whether that sometimes was referring to me or the pessimist that is for another conversation all together. Anyway I was trying to point out that some pessimism makes you less vulnerable to people who prey on naivete'. This discussion led him to ask me "Do you think the glass is half full or half empty?" I said "neither". I said I simply see the glass as it is with x amount of liquid in it. He pressed me and I finally said "I guess half full, but with something still missing." That is pretty much my take on life. Be aware of your accomplishments but always strive to do better.

The first two months I did Spark People I lost about 10 lbs per month. This month my goal was to lose 10 more pounds. What I was naive about was that traditionally I look at November as the beginning of 2 month feast. It begins with my birthday on November 11th, and doesn't end until Al's birthday on January 10th. My plan this year was to eat sensibly for the entire 2 months with the exception of 5 days: my birthday, Thanksgiving, Nicholas' birthday, Christmas, and Al's birthday. I didn't have plans to attend any holiday parties so I figured life would go on as usual in between.

What I forgot to plan for was how I usually celebrate my birthday for about a week with various groups of friends. So...my birthday started my downhill slide. I only went out a couple of times, but one was to the Cheesecake Factory and the other was an all day excursion with Al which started with Applebees, continued with a visit to the wine store and Cupcake Island, and ended with Old Chicago. Luckily (not really) I was extremely sick over Thanksgiving and I only got ONE Thanksgiving dinner with no leftovers. This is very sad to me because I LOVE LOVE LOVE me some dressing and my Daddy's ham.

So back to my point. I lost 5 lbs this month not the 10 lbs I had hoped for. Does this mean I met 1/2 of my goal or missed 1/2 of my goal? Does the pessimist say "fail" and the optimist say "good job"? Well here is what I say: I was 5 lbs lighter on December 1st than I was on November 1st, and 25 lbs lighter than when I started my journey. I was hoping to be 30 lbs lighter, but 25 lbs is nothing to sneeze at right? I feel pretty good that I got through November and lost weight instead of gaining (which I would have if I hadn't gotten sick). I also need to try harder through December to make sure that I keep tracking my food and don't let those calories get away from me. I am trying to take this 1 day at a time, 1 weigh-in at a time, and 1 goal at a time, and while I really want to hurry up and meet my final goal, I know it is a long journey. It will be a lifetime change if I do it correctly.

So honey, let's just say you are married to a cafeteria pessimist. I pick and choose when the glass needs to be refilled. OK?

P.S. Currently weight loss stands as follows:

Al- 36 lbs
Mitzi- 25 lbs
Nicholas- 24 lbs
Christian 15 lbs

Grand Total for the Cardona Family.....100 lbs!!!!!!!!!!!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

CATMARIE1960 12/8/2009 8:44AM

Congratulations, a five pound loss in one month is fantastic! I'm glad you have chosen to look at it that way. Report Inappropriate Comment

TWYLA053 12/4/2009 9:54AM

Y'all have lost like a whole person! Since SP only recommends losing 2 pounds a week and since I have gained over Thanksgiving (I refuse to weigh but my clothes have told on me) you are doing great! A loss is a loss and should always be something to be proud of. Report Inappropriate Comment

Holiday Blues

Monday, November 23, 2009

I have to say this hasn't been the best time for me as far as weight loss. I've gone from a 1-2 lbs average weight loss per week to about 0.5 lbs. I did really well while my family was visiting in October, because they are all doing Spark People and we planned our meals accordingly. However, the end of October presented me with a major life changing obstacle, and that was followed by my husband's retirement and my birthday. Now Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years are looming and I hope to do well through the holidays. I would love to continue to lose, but my realistic goal is to at least maintain until January and not backslide. I have tried really hard to eat within my calories, but I spent my birthday week not tracking and now I can't seem to stay below my limit. Oh well one day at a time right?

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

LOSEITSUSIE 11/26/2009 7:57PM

I have been trying to maintain without tracking my food every day. Buddy and Heather came earlier this week, and one meal I made was that turkey chili, but the next day was frozen lasagne. Today I tried to eat less than usual. I agree, maybe just maintaining is good during this time of year. Hang in there! Sorry you've been sick. Happy Thanksgiving! Report Inappropriate Comment

HLH29537 11/24/2009 4:36PM

I think everyone goes through patches like you described. Tracking food is one of the most important things to do because otherwise it is so easy to get out of control! This spoken from experience :) Keep on working hard and best of luck to you through the holidays! Report Inappropriate Comment

Plateaus

Tuesday, October 06, 2009

For the last two weeks I have been on a plateau. I didn't lose any weight, and I was a little frustrated. I knew that it was because I was staying in the top range of my calories, and because I still haven't found time to exercise. I was also a little jealous (ok a lot) because I had only lost 10 lbs and Al had lost almost 20 lbs. He is a guy AND he's been going to the gym a lot so his is coming off faster. I was also worried that mine was the initial 10 lbs of water weight, and that I was done losing.

Last night I weighed in and the scale had actually moved. Thank you lord. I have lost a total of 13.1 lbs, and I'm back in my grove. Hooray! Also, I've been DVRing yoga, but I haven't been home long enough to actually try it. I have 6 1 hour sessions recorded, so I hope that I can get motivated soon (even if I don't get home until 9 p.m.) and start working out. I think (no I KNOW) it will speed up the process.

The boys are doing well. Nicholas is especially doing great. He's lost 13 lbs and that officially brings him to below 200 lbs. He weighed exactly 199 lbs last night. Great job Nicholas. Christian weighed in at 203 lbs. Losing slower than his brother, but still losing so that is a good thing. You're almost there Christian, but you've gotta catch up with your little brother :-) They are the same height and started out at the same weight. They have had a lifelong battle with who is taller, and it seems to go back and forth, so this should be interesting

I've got a long swim ahead, but I'm starting to see land. Bye for now!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

AMARIN4 10/6/2009 8:29PM

I know how frustrating platues can be. I hit my first one in July and was ready to stop the program, but I stayed with it (thanks to JR, my #1 cheerleader) and FINALLY got over that hump.I know finding time to exercise it hard, but I just had to force myself to do it at first and now it's not a big deal anymore. Start off small, trying to fit in 1 hr. can be difficult. When I was trying to start an exercise routine I started with 15 min. a day, now I'm comfortable with a 45 min. aerobic workout. Congratulations for making it over the hump and not giving up! Hooray for your whole family, it is so awesome to see y'alls results. Report Inappropriate Comment

Tough Week

Friday, September 11, 2009

This has been a really tough week for me hunger wise. I don't know if it was the long weekend that screwed me up or what. All week I have been a little over, or right at the top of, my range for calories & fat. I have also started tracking my calcium, iron, fruits and veggies. I tend to be under the recommended daily amounts with all of these as well as with my water. So to summarize, too much bad and not enough good. My life story right?

I'm going to try harder to really focus on getting my calories from fruits and vegetables instead of meat and bread. I've gotten better in the last couple of days about the water, but I just don't drink very much. I never have.

So here is a funny story (OK not so funny). I am teaching a smoking cessation class, and Tuesday was the classes "Quit Day". That means they all had to quit smoking Tuesday night. On Thursday we met again to see how everyone was doing. All day Thursday I was STARVING, and nothing satisfied my appetite. I drank a ton of water and munched on healthy snacks, but I was dying. When my class came in and talked about their desires to smoke over the past two days, it hit me. God was making ME miss the things I was giving up so that I could better empathize with my students. It worked too. I guess this journey is valuable in more ways than one huh?

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

LOSEITSUSIE 9/11/2009 8:15PM

I've thought that i was addicted to food--like alcoholism or smoking. When I ate too much or ate when I wasn't hungry or ate as a pacifier, and no one would know, I only hurt myself and I would convince myself it wasn't too bad--I would only gain weight!! Trying to reason, like an abuser. While doing Weight Watcher's and also with this program, I am accountable and I can stick to it pretty well. But there's a fine line. Good luck and remember, if you mess up today, forget about it and get back to it tomorrow. One day, or one week, shouldn't blow the whole thing. Hang in there. Yea! It's finally raining here!! Report Inappropriate Comment

MRSSHANNONC1970 9/11/2009 2:35PM

Yes there is ALWAYS next week, I for one am OVER this whole week and I just plan to take a mental and diet breather for next week since I am going away at the end of the week. Then I can re-focus and get back on track and start my 30 day sred and get my ass in gear and get it smaller, you can do it too! Report Inappropriate Comment

RAYNEBAIR 9/11/2009 2:27PM

Sympathy symptoms at it's best! Hang in there...there's always next week, right? I'm having trouble keeping my sodium levels low and calcium/potassium levels up. Good luck! Report Inappropriate Comment