Feb. 26: Still Stuck

I weighed again today, and not happy! My weight is still up! I have gained back 3 of the pounds I have lost. I really thought that by tightening things up this week I'd see a difference on the scale - not so! I am exactly where I was a week ago. I am very frustrated today.

That being said, I'm not going to quit. I know I am on the right track. No one can eat like I do and work out somewhat regularly and be as overweight as I am. I'm still 35 pounds over the top of the healthy weight range for someone my height. It's only logical that these good habits, if continued will result in a healthy body weight. Patience, however, is not my strong point.

Grrrrr........

So what am I going to do about this?

I'm very hesitant to dive into Cooler 1 - for those of you that aren't familiar with the Eat Clean Diet, that is Tosca's short-term plan for busting through a plateau. It's extremely limited and it cuts out a lot of the foods I regularly eat. no nuts, no breads, no dairy, very limited carbs, no beans - ugh. It just sounds NOT FUN. It isn't a lifestyle I want to have - the constant dieting. I really don't feel comfortable doing something dramatic like that. To me, restriction seems like the road to failure.

So, again, the question: what am I going to do?

I'm going to give the plan another week. I'm going to keep it tight - no cheat meals are planned and I will make the best choices possible in every situation. I will plan carefully and I will work out 5 times. I'm going to count calories to make certain I am keeping things tight enough, and I am going to measure out my food.

In another week, if we are having this discussion, then something will have to change. For now, I'm going to continue to work the plan.

Feb. 24: Accountablity

"It is not only what we do, but what we do not do, for which we are accountable."

Moliere, 1622-1673, French playwright and actor

Of course, it's hard to know what you have been doing wrong (or right, for that matter) if you don't keep track of it. Most successful diet programs require a food journal. It's too easy to get off track if you don't. I've even said no to food because I cringed over the thought of writing it down!

The thing for me that is different about my weight loss this time is journaling. I have tracked both publicly and privately. I keep an online journal on a forum, which is great, because I get lots of input from a group of really kind, supportive people who are fighting the same battles. I keep this blog, in which I research different topics and share what I have learned. I keep a personal journal of my thoughts about my life, my nutrition program and my fitness program. All combined together, this introspection has brought my brain along for the ride this time!

Journaling and keeping track of food makes you accountable for what you are eating, or not eating, for that matter. Moliere had it right - the things you don't do can affect you just as much as the things you do. I skipped my 3 litres of water for a while and the weight loss stalled. I went out to eat to often one week and I gained. I have recorded my measurements and taken progress photos, and this has allowed me to see the difference when the scale hasn't moved quite to my satisfaction. I can go back and look at times when I have lost really well to see what I have slacked on.

I've also worked out a lot of my feelings about food in my various journals. I don't turn to food for comfort any more. It has lost the power to comfort me and make me "feel better" when I am down. Emotional eating is what made me fat to start with, and the fact that I just don't do it anymore means once I am rid of this I will never have a weight problem again. By writing about why I ate a particular junk food meal, I learned that it really did not improve the way I felt. So why do it? The aftermath of guilt should have been enough, but the understanding is what really slayed the dragon.

I strongly recommend a food journal and a supportive place to track your weight loss efforts. Find a forum with like-minded people and start today. Track religiously and you will find that your weight loss efforts will take on a new life!

Feb. 23: It's Work to Get a Workout

My biggest problem right now is workouts. I'm gonna whine for a minute, so bear with me. I am just NOT motivated to work out at home. I have DVDs, I have a bike and elliptical and a few small pieces of equipment. It seems my get-up-and-go has got-up-and-went!!! I will use any excuse to skip. It's just NOT FUN!!!

So I'm tackling this head on, assuming my tax return is as good as I think it will be. I'm going to go to the gym at the corner with a handful of cash and pay for the next 3-4 months. By then, the weather will be beautiful and I can take it outside, which I love. I enjoy the cardio classes at the gym and I've been thinking I might like doing some weight training.

A plan!!! The workouts must get done!

Feb. 21: Two Steps Back

I'm NOT a happy camper today. I weighed this morning before church and had the unpleasant surprise of three extra pounds. It's not my time of month - that just ended. In the cold light of day, this is the result of eating off plan FOUR times this week.

I haven't been feeling well lately. I started some new medication which has effectively killed my appetite. Although that might seem great, apparently my body hasn't realized I'm not eating much! However, that being said, what I have been eating has not been good, clean nourishing food. I ate out on four occasions, and on each of them I could have made better choices. Waaaaayyyy better choices. It's fine to do that once a week, but obviously not so fine to do it four times.

I'm so disappointed in myself. This is NOT in line with my goals. This is not the way to a healthier me! I realized today at my fourth meal out that I am allowing myself permission to fail. I promptly took the bun off my grilled chicken sandwich and farmed off half of the sweet potato fries on the kids. The rest of the day is going to be decidedly clean!

Workouts have been rotten this week too, because of the upset stomach. I've done a little something but not like I should have. I haven't pushed myself at all, and clearly that is also going to have an effect.

So the plan for this week:

Cardio every other day, push ups and crunches before coffee in the mornings, and a very clean, well planned week. NO MEALS OUT!!!!! I'm toeing the line this week. I'm going to get back on track and I'm going to meet my goal of getting out of the 190s in February.