I'm Still Here

Struggling.

More so then I remember from previous occasions when I have managed to take off those extra pounds.

NOT stopping.

Every day is a new day. Tomorrow is a fresh chance to start again.

DON'T GIVE UP!

I got groceries today because I seem to do my best when I have lots of choices. Or at least that worked before I fell off the food wagon.

Oh, I didn't just fall off the wagon, I'm pretty sure I set that thing on fire as well!

Currently we have been keeping up with regularly scheduled walks though. I also did one solo-walk last week, I need to do more of those. One step at a time.

Are you following me? Are you struggling too? Please, don't give up. Just try to be a better you tomorrow. 

In Progress

La, la, la, la, la, la, la!
-The fat lady singing

I wrote that on Saturday, after the Jets lost. Our season is officially over and since I don't have any teams to cheer for in the playoffs it should be easier to stay on track. See? I found the bright-side!

Anyhow, on to the post!

The weekend was not a smashing success, but that's okay. I must have consumed at least two days worth of food for Easter yesterday. The important thing to note is that it's okay to indulge occasionally. There's no reason to restrict yourself on holidays or special occasions. You just need to do your best to stay on track all of the other days and not let one day turn into twelve.

Activity wise, my cousin has been motivated by our flexible walking schedule. This week should prove to be a bit of a challenge because of us having plans on opposite days, but I think it should work out. I should add some more activity myself, but I'm not there yet. Much of my weight loss  involves mental obstacles (I think it's like that for many people), I can't even describe it. Again, I will say this. . .one step at a time. Progress is progress, no matter how small.

You Don't Have to Be Great

You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.
- I'm sure that's a quote from someone, but I have no idea who.

Last week may not have been perfect (okay, it was far from perfect), but all that matters is that I started. It was the time that I needed to start to be aware of what I was eating and eating better when I could. It was also the time needed to assess my grocery list and get some healthier choices into my fridge and pantry.

AND I did lose 1.6 pounds so that was a win!!!

We went for another walk last night. I am very proud of my cousin/walking partner for recognizing that she needs to get active, knowing her limitations, and realizing ahead of time that she was going to be busy today so that we needed to get the walk in last night. She has also planned our next walk for Friday!!! If I can help even one person work on their goals while I work on mine, then that is great!

Who on earth starts a "diet" when their team is in the playoffs though? Me. I fought the urge to order wings during the game, mostly because I already had a treat and was still "winning" on calories burned, but next game I may have to give in!

By the way, I don't actually like referring to it as a "diet". A diet is restrictive in food choices. Diet's are also temporary. I like to call it a "healthier lifestyle", or "healthy choices", or just "being a healthier me". I am not restrictive in what I eat. I may choose not to eat something, or to eat less of something that maybe isn't all that healthy, because, to be honest, I like food too much and I feel like restricting myself would definitely lead to failure.

Baby Steps

I woke to a text from my cousin saying lets go for a walk today. I am proud of her for realizing that today was the day to do it, because tomorrow's weather looks to be less desirable to walk in. (I mentioned in a previous post that I had given us an exercise "ultimatum" of starting by Monday.) It was only a half hour, and only burned an extra 100 calories for the day, but she needs to start slow, so if that's what it takes, then that is what we will do.

Off to the Jets viewing party tonight! That means beer and pizza! Again, I do not begrudge myself for this. Tomorrow I have nothing planned therefore I can revisit my healthier habits.

Old Habits Are Hard to Break

Argh!!! I made a rash impulse decision to get some pretzel bites with cheese sauce at work last night! I have to remember to be more conscious of the decisions I make when it comes to eating. Old habits are no doubt hard to break, but I plan on breaking them.

Don't beat yourself up over bad decisions. We are used to making decisions on the fly. We have to "train" ourselves to make different choices though. Or to stop and think about our choices first.

I did have extra calories to work with yesterday. I worked the second job and made 12000 steps, and burned approximately 2600 calories so thankfully, it worked out okay. Again, even if it didn't work out, I would still need to move on. 

I will continue to work on making better choices and soon that will be the normal habit again.

Getting There

Day two was easy, but only because I worked my second job which allows me to burn extra calories. I still have to be food responsible on those days, but I did well.

Day three. . .well that was a pre-planned birthday dinner at the Keg so I already knew that was going to be "bad". I have always been okay with those kind of days. If you never allow yourself some enjoyment, you will eventually find it too hard to keep up with your weight-loss plan. So balance the "bad" with more good and it will be okay.

I have started laying out some plans for losing this weight. First, exercise. My walking buddy is a bit more out of shape then I so she asked to start small. I set out an "ultimatum" for us though. We start with a minimum 30 minutes by Monday. She agreed!

I need to do this. I need to be in the right place to do it. I really hope I am.

It's Been a Long Time

Well, well, well. . .it seems I am back here again. Once again hoping for a new day one. I seem to do better when I talk to myself in here so I realized I should come back.  I have hosted many weight-loss challenges over the last two years, but all I have done is yo-yo with each challenge. I am thinking that I do my best on my own.

I stepped on the scale this morning. . .196.4. Too close to 200 for my comfort.

I tracked my food today, it's a start. I didn't meet my calorie goal, but I didn't go over my calories burned, so that's a start.

20 pounds. 176.4.  That's not a lot to ask of myself. I have to remind myself that I am capable of achieving this.

Do you believe weight-loss is mental? I do. And my attitude switched back to the I don't care attitude for a while now and I don't know why. I need to care, I need to take care of me.

Hopefully I will be back here soon to tell myself that I am doing a good job working on my goal.