New Year Goals

I didn’t fall off the wagon, per se, over the holidays. I just… hopped off of the wagon and walked along behind it. I fell a little behind and probably put on a couple of pounds. It was a conscious choice to not count calories and to not be so careful with my food. It would have stressed me out way too much to try to keep track of everything and be careful while I was totally out of control of 97% of my food prep. 

I was going to hit the gym hard as soon as I got home, but among the many things I got for Christmas, one of them was a cold. I took it easy for 2 days and hit the gym again today. My goal today was not to burn calories, but to remind my body about the whole working out thing so that Monday won’t be so painful. I have been counting calories since Wednesday. I will be drinking a copious amount tonight to ring in the new year and attending a couple of potlucks and dinners this weekend, but I’m trying to get back into the habit of logging my food now.

Come Monday, I’ll be back at the weight-loss game full force. Counting calories and sweating it out 5 days a week. I didn’t make my New Years goal of being back in Onederland, so that will be my first goal of the new year. I have a feeling I can knock that out in a couple of weeks, depending on how much I actually gained over the holiday. 

I would like to be at 180 by my 25th birthday on March 23rd and down to my goal weight of 160 by the end of the summer. These seem like fairly reasonable goals, but I will obviously adjust as as I go along. 

My workout routine was starting to get just a little boring before the holiday, therefore I will be mixing it up some. I’d like to try doing cardio intervals: 10-15 minutes on 3 different machines instead of 30-45 minutes on one machine. As soon as the class schedule comes out for the new year, I will try to plan to integrate one class per week to keep things fresh (BodyPump, Zumba, Spin). I’m also thinking about going to the YMCA closer to work more often. They have a rock climbing wall and I have rock climbing shoes and a harness that have been begging for attention recently. I will no longer be carpooling come Monday, so I’ll have a little more flexibility in what I do right after work. I’m also thinking about taking my gym clothes with me when I head to work so I can go to the gym straight from work with no stops at home. I think if I eliminate the stop at home, I will be less likely to get comfy on the couch and skip the gym. I will try it out to see how I like it. 

In the spring, I’ll be picking up the rec. softball and maybe flag football. The summer will probably also be some softball and then of course the fall will be volleyball and maybe softball again. Whatever sports come my way, I will try. I’d like to do a 5k this year, but I’m waiting for my perpetually sore ankle to stop being so sore before I start training for that. 

So here’s the plan for 2011:

Counting calories, gym 5 days a week, mixing it up by taking classes and rock climbing, trying a different gym time, staying involved in rec. sports. 

I got a really nice low cal cookbook for Christmas from my parents, so I’d like to try to cook my way through it this year. A new recipe once per week! 

Drop about 25 pounds in 3.75 months, and 40 in about 6 or 7. 

Let’s do it. 

Weigh-In

Starting weight (9/2010): 218.6lbs

Last Week’s Weight: 206.6lbs

Friday’s Weight: 203.6lbs

Weekly Change: -3.0lbs

Total Weight Lost: -15lbs

Ultimate Goal Weight: 160lbs

Woo! Another 3 pound drop! I knew I was going to drop some weight this week, but I went a little easier on the gym (not feeling well, sore ankle) and was a little less careful with my food (Thai carryout, lunch out) but I still managed to pull it out in the end. I think I finally have my proportions under control and that’s helping a lot. I used to be able eat an entire restaurant serving of Drunken Noodles, but I stopped at about half of it this time. I also chose a portabella burger over a beef burger at lunch yesterday and stopped when I was full. It’s really awesome to be able to eat whatever I want, but just less of it. Leftovers also make life a little cheaper! Two meals for the price of one.

Hopefully I can get through parties the next few weeks and force myself to go out into the arctic cold to get to the gym to get this last 3.6 pounds off before Jan. 1!!

Weigh-In

Starting weight (9/2010): 218.6lbs

Last Week’s Weight: 206.0lbs

Friday’s Weight: 206.6lbs

Weekly Change: +0.6lbs

Total Weight Lost: -12lbs

Ultimate Goal Weight: 160lbs

My Thanksgiving Battle plan didn’t go quite as planned. I only made it to the gym once while I was out of town. I did find out that there is a gym in the golf community in which my partner’s grandparents live, so that’s really good to know for future trips! I also tried to keep somewhat active despite my absence from the gym. I went on a walk, played in the yard, did some push-ups inside, etc. I also fell back on a lot of my old habits for eating (namely, if it’s in front of my face, I’ll eat it!). I snacked a lot more than I normally do, but I was pretty good with not over-doing my meals. I haven’t been perfect this week with my food, hard to get back on the train, plus lots of alcohol and food at a client dinner and friend’s birthday. However! I only gained a little over half a pound! I imagine it was a bit more than that before my light-eating and heavy working out Thursday.

I think it’s pretty hard to gain once your body is in a solid losing pattern, so I’m thankful for that. Back on the work-out and eat right train! I do have some obstacles in the form of holiday parties and such this month, but as long as I stay on track on the non-party days, I should be good to go.

Let’s see if I can’t get back into my 3 pounds per week loss rhythm!

Thanksgiving Battle Plan

Ok! Time to hammer out my exact battle plan from now until my Thanksgiving trip.

Friday: Day off!

Saturday: Going to my first BodyPump class at the Y at 7:45am. After that, depending on how I feel, I will probably throw in some cardio.

Sunday: Just cardio (30-60 mins) as I’ll be resting my muscles from BodyPump.

Monday: Usually an off day, but I’ll likely hit the gym anyways. Depending on how sore I am, I may lift weights. Definitely 30-60 minutes of cardio.

Tuesday: The last soccer game for my work team. I haven’t played in any of the other games, but I might go to this one! I will need to do laundry and pack though, so I might settle for some quick cardio at the gym.

Wednesday: We will be traveling for most of the morning into the afternoon. I may try to get up extra early and go to the gym before we leave, but I want to leave really early, so I’m not sure there will be time. I’m not sure how much free time there will be in the evening either, but I will try to take a walk, play on my skateboard, hit around a volleyball, or throw a football. Just anything to keep moving. If I can sneak out for a little bit of gym time at the Wilmington Y, I definitely will.

Thursday: I don’t think the Y will be open, so I’ll try to just keeping moving throughout the day. I may even get up early and go on a walk/jog. I can take my parents’ dog on a long walk. I’ll also try to stay active outside (volleyball, football, etc)

Friday: I’ll probably be up before anyone else and I will high-tail it to the gym. I can repent all my Thanksgiving sins then. Cardio, weights, a full workout.

Saturday: Same with the up early and to the gym!

Sunday: Driving back and then unpacking and getting set for the week, so likely no gym.

Back on my regular schedule Monday and hopefully with no huge gains! I think if I can keep up with some activity and MODERATE and track my food, I’ll be fine.

Weigh-In and Next Goal

Jackpot.

Starting weight (9/2010): 218.6lbs

Last Week’s Weight: 209.4lbs

Friday’s Weight: 206.0lbs

Weekly Change: -3.4lbs

Total Weight Lost: -12.6lbs

Ultimate Goal Weight: 160lbs

This means I’ve made my Thanksgiving goal of 208! Blown it away actually. I’m hoping to drop a wee bit more weight before we leave to visit my partner’s family for Thanksgiving. I’ll need to do whatever I can before the Food Marathons begin because I’ve set a somewhat ambitious goal to be in ONE-DERLAND by January 1, 2011. I want to hit 199. Now, any other time of the year, losing 6 pounds in 6 weeks would be no sweat, but because of the holidays, traveling, parties, and FOOD GALORE, I think it’s going to be a challenge. 

I’m setting this goal so I have another reason to keep myself on track. I have something to work for during the most difficult time of the year to lose weight. I’m hoping that this goal will keep me from using the holiday as an excuse to eat to much and move too little. 

I can do this. I’ve made it this far. I’m developing good habits and practicing my self-control. I’m committed. Twelve pounds down, 46 to go!   

Clothes Swap!

I think I may have stumbled upon a brilliant idea. Maybe not, but hopefully it will be helpful to some.

We all know that losing weight means having to replace your entire wardrobe. For a lot of us, there will be several sizes between our starting weight and our goal weight.

While perusing around on Twitter today, I saw that someone I follow had tweeted that she had a pair of jeans that she loved and just couldn’t bear to donate to Goodwill even though they were about 2 sizes too big for her. She offered them up in case any of her followers wanted them. She posted the size, brand, cut, and a picture. Now they’re about a size too small for me, but I know I’ll fit into them very soon. So I spoke up and now I have a fabulous pair of gently worn jeans headed my way!

This got me thinking, I have a few gently worn articles of clothing that are too big or will soon be too big. I was thinking about taking them to a consignment store since they’re so new and were worn so little. However, if there is someone on their weight loss journey who might benefit, even better!

I haven’t thought through a format for this kind of exchange, but I’m really curious if anyone is interested. Thoughts?

Weekly Weigh-In

I weighed myself last Friday morning, here are the results.

Starting weight (9/2010): 218.6lbs

Last Week’s Weight: 211.4lbs

Friday’s Weight: 209.4lbs

Weekly Change: -2lbs

Total Weight Lost -9.2lbs

I think I’ve definitely hit my stride! I’m a pound away from my Thanksgiving goal of 208 with about 10 days to accomplish it. I’ve been averaging 2 pounds a week the past couple of weeks, so I hope I’ll be able to blow right through that number this week. I have been making some dicey weekend food (and alcohol) decisions, but trying to keep it moderate.

I think I’ve already figured out what my next weight goal will be. It will be fairly aggressive, considering the amount of time I’ll be traveling for the holidays and all the holiday food! I think if I set an aggressive goal, hopefully I won’t use the holidays as an excuse to slow down or slide backwards. I’m not going to announce this goal until I reach my Thanksgiving goal, but I’m pretty sure I’ve decided what it will be.

Weekly Weigh-In

I weighed myself Thursday night, but forgot to blog it. Here we go!

Starting weight: 218.6

Last Week’s Weight: 213.4

Thursday’s Weight: 211.4

Weekly Change: -2

I’ve lost 7 pounds in about 5 weeks!!