ALL About the Weight Loss!

Well, happy Monday, everybody!  I’m officially the worst blog-buddy of all time…I am so far behind on everything it’s not even funny.  I’m hoping to get caught up this week.  On a lot of things!

Today is Day One of the Birthday Challenge and I’m a bit stoked.  This coincides with me coming to my senses sometime yesterday after a carb-and-fat-laden week or so, and realizing that it’s ridiculous for me to be behaving this way.  It’s not as though I don’t know better.

The thing is…I’ve been holding steady, weight-wise.  And that’s all well and good, and I’m not displeased about it.  But even so, I have been so aware of all of the negative aspects of eating badly and not exercising.  Things like bloating, joint and body aches, excess fatigue, depression.  Things that are a result of bad behavior – but which also tend to create a cycle and make me want to continue the bad behavior.  I feel too tired to exercise, or too achy.  I’m depressed, so I want to eat.  Things like that.

It’s more than a bit absurd.  These aren’t new lessons.  I know these things.  I’ve known them for quite some time now…this is not, by any means, my first rodeo, as we say in Oklahoma. 

So the air is clearing and it’s time for me to just stop being silly.  I don’t believe in “starting over” or that sort of thing…because I’m not starting over.  I mean, I’m forty-some pounds (haven’t weighed today, sorry) and a whole host of health issues under where I started.  So, you know…I’m just getting back on the horse after wandering around for a while picking daisies. 

One modification I am thinking of making to my program is a “splurge meal” once a week.  Not a day, just one meal.  I don’t know that it would make much difference in terms of health or weight loss, but I think it might make a huge difference in terms of morale.  Not only would it give me something to look forward to, but it would make it easier to stay on plan if I knew that deviations during the week would mean I couldn’t do the splurge meal.  So I’m considering it.

And I am totally taking a quote from the video Cammy posted as my mantra for the summer.  To get what we’ve never had, we must do what we’ve never done. I just love that, I really do.  There’s a reason I’ve never had that fit, healthy body.  And if I want it, I can’t just keep doing what I’ve always done.  If old bad habits were ever going to make me healthy, they already would have. Nope, gotta stick with the new and improved lifestyle!

So I’m feeling very strong and positive, and very committed.  My plan at this point is to walk at least five nights a week with my walking partner/neighbor, B.; to do my 30-Day Shred DVD at least four nights a week; to allow myself two days “off” from exercise, though I will still try to keep my steps up for the WOMAN Challenge; and to stick to my healthy eating with the exception of one splurge meal a week.

As for goals…well, those are as nebulous as ever.  Right now I really want to see 150 by the end of the summer.  I want to be completely comfortable in my size 8s – and comfortable for me usually means “loose”, so I have a little way to go.  And I want my muscle tone back! My body takes the very first opportunity to get flabby and soft; I really can’t afford to relax my vigilance.    But fortunately, it comes back pretty quickly once I start behaving.

So I’m setting my goal for the Birthday Challenge (July 24) as 10 pounds, and then my next goal will be 10 pounds by Labor Day.  I can do it.  There is no reason I can’t…only excuses.  And I’m sick and tired of excuses! 

I hope everyone is having a wonderful week and I am going to try to catch up, though I may not manage it all today.  ED has to go to the doctor after school, so I’m leaving early, and I’ve got a full workout-schedule tonight.  But I’ll get caught up with you all soon…I am desperately out of date and can’t wait to see what is happening in all your lives!