For the next 12 weeks, I'll be participating in the Sparkpeople Biggest Loser Challenge. My goal is to lose 25 pounds in this time. It's doable since it's 1 pound over 2 pounds a week for the challenge. I have already lost a few pounds which I expected. I had some water weight that I knew would come right off but I'm counting it towards my 25 pounds.
I started the challenge at 248 so the plan is to end the challenge at 223.
My plan is simple - I walk 20-30 minutes a day, complete a circuit of exercises from the PT each day (part of therapy) and keep my calories between 1200 and 1500. That should help me lose the weight.
My biggest obstacles are:
1.I am so hungry but I keep telling myself that this will go away as my body gets used to eating less volume. I'm not unlike a dog in that I will eat until I am painfully full and then still eat. I'm retraining myself what a real meal looks like and what my body needs from food.
2. I get bored or feed-up or have a bad day and then it's all over. Besides the BLC team, I have joined another weight loss support group outside of Sparkpeople. I figure the two prong attack of support will help me keep up. That and I am fiercely competative. I love points and both have point systems. It will be my goal to get as many points possible.
3. My family. My family loves me but they also love food. Being that it's summer there are more opportunities for outdoor activites. I have expressed how badly I need to do this for my health and they understand but they all have their own food issues. It's not an easy obstacle to overcome. One thing I am doing is planning and saying no. I give in when I have extra calories I can use or if I haven't been getting enough calories (I had 2 days this week where I was under 1200 so I didn't mind when I goofed and hit 1600).
As part of my plan, I am journalling daily and reminding myself that I have a dream. I have no desire to be skinny or a supermodel. I have a man who loves me deeply but I want to be healthy. I want to have the energy and strength to return to farm living when we have the money. I have a big dream but I won't be able to reach that dream if I am too sick to do so. The first goal is to get my blood pressure back to normal and my body strong. That also requires some weightloss. My family is supportive of that. They want me around for a long time. I plan on staying with them for as long as possible.
So that keeps me on the path. I have lots of love and support. It's a struggle but I think I have a good plan.