It's official: 10 pounds gone

Saturday, July 12, 2008

And just where do you get those icons? I tried copying & pasting it from someone's page, but then it wasn't transparent.

Not quite 10 from when I started going back to WW -- although I'm only half a pound away -- but from when I had to get weighed at the doctor's at the end of March. So it took 3 months, which isn't terrible.

I would love, love, love to be in the 140s by the cruise. But that would mean I'd have to lose 8 pounds in 6 weeks. While not unreasonable, it may be unreasonable for me, especially since your weight loss slows the smaller you get (not that I could be considered small yet).

I would also love to hit 150 before the cruise. That would be 10% gone -- and I originally had that as a goal for March 2009!

WW is definitely helping, considering that I lost 1 lb between the end of March and starting back at WW in the middle of May; and have lost almost 10 in the 2 months I've been going to meetings. Big difference!

Of course, I've also added in some challenging exercise DVDs, and have the carrot of a cruise dangling in front of me.

Yesterday our leader asked someone who's lost 10 lbs what they're proudest of. I'm not sure I would have been able to answer on the spot, but with time to reflect, I'd say I'm proudest of the fact that 95% of the time, I'm extremely satisfied with what I'm eating. I still eat desserts. I still eat out. I still eat pizza -- just not as often on any of the above, and sometimes in smaller portions.

I had a really good day this week: I worked chocolate into every main meal of the day. For breakfast I had a chocolate banana "pizza" (half a whole wheat pita, spread with 1 tbsp peanut butter, 1 tbsp chocolate chips, and 1 banana, heated). At lunch I took my calcium supplement, Adora, which is a small chocolate. And with dinner I had chocolate covered strawberries. So maybe an ounce and a half of chocolate spread over the whole day.

We went out for breakfast, out for sushi, and I made those whoopie pies. And I still lost 2 pounds, which for me is great. And if I stay true to pattern, I'll probably gain a tiny bit next week. But that's okay, because I know as long as I keep eating healthy, I will continue downwards.

Alaska ho! Indeed.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

JANDELL 7/14/2008 10:51PM

I think I'm gonna try your chocolate/banana pizza! Report Inappropriate Comment

STARTSPARKING 7/12/2008 10:28PM

Congratulations on your 10-pound loss! Deprivation only makes me crave something more. Calculated small indulgences occasionally works better for me. Keep up your great work, and I wish you continued success! Report Inappropriate Comment

WHIMSYT 7/12/2008 9:33PM

Thank you so much for your encouraging comment on my blog. You're doing really well, and your blog and spark page really encourage me to keep on keeping on!!!! You mentioned a WW story about a woman who lost 160 lbs 0.2 and 0.4 at a time....where do I find that story?? Keep up the GREAT work!!! I've added you as a friend so I can keep reading your page. Report Inappropriate Comment

LILLIAN364 7/12/2008 4:33PM

My first ten pounds is the hardest since it's my only ten pounds. I decided on the goal 127 as a final goal. That's eleven pounds from my starting weight. Congratulations on your ten pound loss. Way to go! Report Inappropriate Comment

KIMMERQU 7/12/2008 3:07PM

and I think that first 10 is the hardest. You're doing a great job. And I love the fact you eat chocolate at every meal...LOL. Kim Report Inappropriate Comment

DONANDMARY77 7/12/2008 11:36AM

HOW Cool is that??? Mary Report Inappropriate Comment

HEARTBEAT10 7/12/2008 11:12AM

Way to go with the 10 pounds. Keep the positive energy going and you'll get to your goal. Just don't give up. Report Inappropriate Comment

MAXIJOHN 7/12/2008 9:52AM

I am so proud of you! Doesn't it feel great? I am going to have to try that Chocolate Banana pizza. Sounds yummy! Report Inappropriate Comment

ASTARB1 7/12/2008 9:33AM

Congratulations on hitting this milestone. I have no doubt that you'll reach your goal! To add the icon, go into "edit mode" on your Spark Page, click a photo to change it, where you can upload a photo or choose one from your gallery, then click on "also choose from our 'success' gallery". Report Inappropriate Comment

MTER67 7/12/2008 7:53AM

I can really feel your enthusiasm in this blog, Jlitt! How satisfying to be able to eat what you want (just in sensible amounts) and still lose weight. That's the difference b/t a lifestyle change and a diet. The former you will stick with, the latter is always a temporary thing. I am sending you good karma and positive wishes that you reach your goals before your cruise. I think you can do it! Report Inappropriate Comment

Friday Fit Tip: Vary what you eat

Friday, July 11, 2008

I'm not just talking about food, either. Of course you should eat a wide variety of food -- when it comes to the healthy food, that is. But did you know that you might lose more weight if you don't eat the same number of calories every day? It's known as calorie cycling or the zigzag diet. There's a Sparkteam for it, too (look under nutrition, I think).

If you're interested and want to know what you ought to eat from day to day, check out this calculator: www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_ca
lculator.htm#

I'm not sure if this is a good way to eat all the time (probably is) or if you should only use it when trying to bust through a plateau. I already do this in a non-scientific, haphazard sort of way, by saving points so I can eat more on the weekends. At some point, I'll give this a shot. Although eating 2000 calories of healthy food will probably be a challenge for me -- at least during the summer, when I'm often just not that hungry.

I'm sure you heard the other big news this week, too, because it's all over the blogs -- people who keep a food journal lose twice as much weight, or so they say.

Just as they say that people who actually attend their weekly WW meetings supposedly lose 30% more weight (I believe this).

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

NOMI_822 7/11/2008 2:15PM

Thanks for stopping by my blog. I'll have to try this to see if it will help me. I lose a few pounds and then stop and sit there for like a month before I lose any more. I could deal with just that but when I gain one or two back it is very dissapointing. Maybe if I tried your plan and eat different numbers each day the pounds would stay gone. The new pedometer is a Sportline, bought at Wal-mart and I think it was like $5. I know it was less than $10 cause the mat I also bought was 9.97. I know it was less than the mat. They had black, blue, and red. I chose blue. Report Inappropriate Comment

MAXIJOHN 7/11/2008 9:10AM

For those of us on Weight Watchers, there is a plan similar to this called the Wendie Plan http://www.stormpc.com/ww/wendie_pl an.htm Its the same concept, you eat more points on certain days and less on others so your body doesn't know what to expect. And it truly works when you have hit a plateau! Report Inappropriate Comment

The joke's on me

Thursday, July 10, 2008

I've been wearing my new jeans. I tried the size 10 first, because I was a bit worried, but they fit well. A little tight, but not too tight to wear out in public. Then I grabbed the size 12. Too loose, really. Uh oh, I thought, I'm going to have to return them.

But then I looked at the tag. Size 14! I didn't think I tried on any size 14s. But I folded them, grabbed the receipt, and got them return to take back to the store. And then it occurred to me . . . I'd grabbed my old "skinny" jeans! Which are now definitely too loose.

The moral is, if your clothes are too loose, go out and buy yourself at least a couple that fit well. You'll feel so much better about yourself.

I'm not getting cocky yet. I had my hair cut yesterday. It is still not pretty when I'm sitting down. All those rolls front and center. I am very happy with my progress, but there's a lot more progress to go.

I also did the TurboJam Total Body Blast yesterday . . . boy, that kicked butt. It's a 60 minute workout, and it wasn't easy to get through -- and that's with no weights, just using a stability ball. I wish they had a similar workout in half the time. They do have shorter workouts, but not shorter ball workouts (other than Kickin' Core, which I haven't tried yet).

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

MAXIJOHN 7/10/2008 2:10PM

Congrats on the "skinny jeans!" There's nothing to show progress like a loose pair of jeans. I always keep a pair on hand just to remind myself of how well I am doing. Keep up the good work! Report Inappropriate Comment

You have to believe

Wednesday, July 09, 2008

Have you heard about Dara Torres? She's a 41-yr-old mother of a toddler. And she's just qualified for her fifth olympic games. When asked how she does it, she said you have to believe in yourself -- and have a really great support system.

Sound familiar? It better. Because you have to believe you will lose the weight, and maintain that loss. If you don't, you won't; it's that simple.

More than that, you need a great support system. Thank God for Sparkpeople, because that's probably what is different for me this time. I don't have a lot of close friends, and until SP, I never had a diet buddy, either.

WW is great, but it's only once a week. SP is here for me 24/7. If I'm faltering, I can ask for help. If I feel good, I can motivate others. I can find out what other people are eating, what they're exercising to, what they're reading. I've made some great buddies here -- people I never would have met without SP -- and I have a couple of buddies I email most days for support, too.

Make sure you use SP to the fullest. Blogs aren't lame. They're a great way to vent, to think through problems, to get and give support. Sparkteams are another way to get motivation and support. The articles can educate you about nutrition, fitness, goal setting, and keep your motivation from flagging. You can track your exercise and food for free -- you can even get exercise videos right on your computer for free!

What are you waiting for? Believe. Because you can do it.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

WOODLANDMYST 7/10/2008 1:15PM

You've got it - believe in yourself and create your own miracles! We can do this and we will! Report Inappropriate Comment

MTER67 7/10/2008 8:00AM

Strangely enough, my husband sent me a link tonight to a blurb about Dara Torres. He gave no explanation, other than that he didn't know if I had heard of her. My guess is that he is saying, "Hey, you and she are the same age. You can still kick some @ss at 41!" I don't know for sure, but that's how I'll interpret it! Report Inappropriate Comment

MAXIJOHN 7/9/2008 11:16AM

You are so right! If it had not been for SP and all of my buddies, I probably would have thrown in the towel by now. Thanks for another inspirational blog! Report Inappropriate Comment

MTER67 7/9/2008 9:18AM

How true this is! I have received so much more from SP than I have ever given. The support you and others have given me has really helped me grow; and even though my hubby is away, I never really feel lonely--as long as there's an internet connection! Take care and thanks! Report Inappropriate Comment

NOMI_822 7/9/2008 8:56AM

What a wonderful blog! All I can say is SPARK ON!! Your attitude is all important and yes if you can believe it you can achieve it. I feel the same way about Sparkpeople. Thank goodness for SP!!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

The power of the pen

Tuesday, July 08, 2008

Yesterday someone did something that hurt me. I know they didn't intend to, but it hurt all the same. It raised all those feelings of I'm not good enough, nobody wants me, yadda yadda yadda.

In the very distant past, I probably would have turned to food to soothe myself. But I really don't do that anymore, and the thought never crossed my mind. My problem, however, is getting all those negative feelings out of my head.

I turned to my journal. My journal is different from this blog. It's hand written, and it's private. It's where I work out a lot of my feelings. Normally I only write about one page, and the second page is a page of lists: of what I'm grateful for, what I want, nice things I did.

Yesterday, however, I wrote a letter to the person who hurt me. I let out all my feelings. Writing is an excellent way to vent (exercise -- especially something like kickboxing -- is another). I felt a lot better after getting all the hurt out.

Most of the hurt out. I still find myself dwelling on it sometimes. I have a really hard time letting things go; I don't know why. At least, now, I am aware of it. And I try to turn those negative feelings into more positive ones when I find them creeping in.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

WOODLANDMYST 7/10/2008 1:17PM

I've been keeping a private journal as well. Some things just can't be shared.... Blessings and hugs, Cyndy Report Inappropriate Comment

MAXIJOHN 7/9/2008 11:15AM

Here is a big hug for you. Maybe it will help squeeze out some of the hurt! Report Inappropriate Comment

SUNLUVV 7/8/2008 10:17AM

Wow, the fact that soothing yourself with food didn't even occur to you is so awesome! I know you have really worked hard to get to that point if you're anything like me. I really like the idea of the second page of your journal focusing on positives. What a great idea. I am definetly going to try it. Sorry you had your feelings hurt, i always try asking myself "how can I learn or grow from the experience?" Kind of takes the focus off the pain. Report Inappropriate Comment

JKG0679 7/8/2008 9:00AM

I'm glad you are finding ways to work through the hurt. I need to take some advice from you! I can become so depressed for a day or 2 when I am hurt, and I play the scene over and over in my head. Keep writing and kickboxing, but DON'T EAT! Report Inappropriate Comment