HOVERING

I am hovering on the brink of dropping below a milestone weight. One where you get to move the big weight over a notch on the scale at the gym. I keep hopping on the scale trying to see if I can go down a notch, but the balance likes the higher one better.

Maybe tomorrow.

My initial meeting with the trainer on Sunday morning was just an evaluation and we will meet next Sunday for the new workout. I need to borrow my husband's heart rate monitor to see if my heart rate is in the right zone while I am working out. That is my assignment for the week from her.

My assignment from me is to move that weight down to the lower notch!

HEY! THAT HELPED!

Wow - that confession stuff really works! The rest of the day yesterday I felt so much better and today I have been on plan. I went to the gym, did my workout even though my iPod was dead (a true sign that I have not been taking care of business!) and I took my punishment in stride...I gained 5 pounds since my last weigh in on May 14.

Good thing I know just what to do about it!

1.) Back on my Lifestyle products plus one Lean & Green meal a day (1200 calories)

2.) Work out 5-6 days per week, minimum 30 minutes cardio, 20 minutes weights

3.) Lot's of water and green tea

4.) 8 hours of sleep

I was planning to start my shift from the diet products to regular foods and up the calories to 1400, but I think I will postpone that another month or two.

Oh, and I banished the last of my favorite chunky natural peanut butter from the house. No more peanut butter on celery for at least a month. sob

ONLY A DENT

I have been feeling pretty good about myself. I have stayed on plan, been exercising 6 days a week. The pounds are coming off. My husband actually noticed and mentioned that I have lost weight. So, feeling good!

Then, at the gym Sunday. I caught a rear view of myself in a mirror. OMG. That 35 pounds is really just a tiny dent in what needs to be done here. It may be a third of my initial goal, but, clearly, there is much more work to be done!

So - good work so far...I have 10 weeks until Maggie's graduation. So I want to lose 50 pounds before then. Can I do it?

And then the real question. After that big event, can I keep going? That is the real question. Because that will not be the end goal. I want to lose at least another fifty pounds after that. I have been known in the past to fall off the program after an event. So this time, knowing that about myself, I will have to recommit in a big way.

THE SLOW BURN

It always happens. It always slows down. The high speed weight drops of the first few weeks slow down and the trip to the scale is less rewarding.

This has been a disappointing week in many respects - so I wish this could have waited, but there it is. No more pounds lost to report.

A SMILE ON MY FACE

I left the gym with a smile on my face this morning - down another 5 pounds. That is a surprise considering the work out I gave the peanut butter jar earlier this week!

I have only walked once due to the rain, but I did increase the resistance on my stepper.

I do worry that my family is going to balk at some point when it become very apparent that I am not cooking some old favorite dinners. My "lean and green" dinners are pretty constraining. So far I have been making sides for them that I don't eat, but not making anything fried or any casseroles. More dinner salads with different ingredients in mine than theirs and bread for them.

Last night I made a Taco Salad with shredded lettuce, cilantro, tomatoes, green onions, olives, avocado, shredded cheese, ground turkey, black beans, tortilla chips and a salsa dressing. I left off the cheese and chips and had just a bit of olives and avocado on mine. Tom liked it so much he said he wanted to eat it all over again!

WEEKLY WEIGH IN

Not much new to add.  I have stayed on plan all week.  Lost another 2 pounds for a total of  6 for week one and 12 for the month of January.

I have devoted some more time to meal planning so that the dinner meal I am eating will have more variety for the family and be acceptable or adaptable for my plan.  My only "splurge" off the bars/shakes/bites routine has been celery with a bit of peanut butter.  My average daily calories for the week  have been coming in at 1050.

I plan to get out walking this weekend and during the week in additon to the gym - my new goal for the week.  I have my pedometer at the ready.  I will report in soon!

WEEKEND WEIGH IN

Now this is more like it. I have lost 6 pounds this week. I know that the first week is always a high number - but I'll take it.

I had a good workout today, I took Friday off because I was sore from my earlier work-outs. I increased the weight and resistance on all the machines.

I think I was right that I needed the reduced choices offered by this plan. I hope I can continue it for some time.

WEEKEND WEIGH IN

Well - I am up 2 pounds this week. I went through my information and my calories are good, went to the gym 5 times and a long walk the one sunny day we had. So what is going on?? I finally decided it is because I am sitting all day for my new work - and before I was on my feet for at least 3 hours and sometimes 5-6 hours of the day.

So I am going to have to increase my daily exercise to make up for it. When it isn't raining I think I'll try a walk during the day. I could try a few extra trips up and down the stairs, too!

WEEKEND WEIGH IN

Just got back from a visit with my parents in Palm Desert. They live in a beautiful development for ages 55 plus. There are 2 golf courses which they spend a lot of time enjoying, a couple of nice gyms, tennis, bike lanes and walking trails. There was snow on the peaks of the mountains and the days were clear and cool.

I hit the gym twice and walked with my mom one day. They eat very healthy meals and the indulgence of the week was wine and a couple of cocktails. I weighed in today and I have lost another 6 pounds. Yeah!

The big change for me going forward is that I'll be working from home. My desk and computer are in the kitchen. Proximity is dangerous for me! I frequently take myself upstairs to distract myself from grazing. So this will take a great deal of willpower.

The plus side is that I have much more time for the gym, and I can take a walk during the day to refresh myself. I am also looking forward to being here in the afternoons for my daughter when she comes home from school. She isn't too pleased, though!