Proceeding...

Much to my amazement I am still dieting, and still, (slowly) losing weight. 35 pounds down at this point. I am following a low-carb sort of diet, mostly just avoiding flour and sugar, which limits my normal food choices a LOT. As we head into fall I am missing the comfort of creamy noodle cassaroles, bean soups and warm bread. On the other hand, I am very much enjoying food preperation and meals. I am much more thoughtful about what and when I eat, and it makes the process seem somehow richer.

I find that after 6 months of eating this way I am looking at "cheating" in a whole new light. Rather than feeling remorseful over eating a box of cookies or a pint of oh-so-delicious Ben and Jerry's, I now look back at my day and think: "Oh, I shouldn't have eaten quite so many raw almonds, and that apple was probably too rich in carbohydrates." An apple? I think I have sinned over an apple? My how I have changed!

My sister gave me a Brookstone pedometer. This little digital wonder is worn on a lanyard and is just terrific. I was honestly quite horrified to find how few steps I was taking. Between my animal care, my work and my frequent little lunch time walks I thought I was walking a good bit. Turns out I was averaging only 4,000-5,000 steps per day. One should be walking 10,000 steps per day, and 12,000 for weight loss. I have been wearing the pedometer for a week now and the last two days broke the 10,000 steps mark. This week I'll up that to the 12,000 and see where we go.


So... I am down 3 clothing sizes and have purchased some clothes that I LOVE and feel pretty in. I am increasing my exercise and feeling quite pleased with my progress. I am not stopping, I am proceeding. It is clear that this change was necessary and very fine.

The bluebird of happiness...

The bluebird of happiness swept past my bathroom scales this morning. It's been slow going but I am down somewhere between 12.5 and 13 lbs. I am more motivated than I have been in... well, a lot of years, and am feeling great. More energetic, very positive and upbeat. I have resisted some truly yummy things that I might not have been able to resist in the past and I am focusing on buying some fun new clothes and dumping clothes that I don't like. I'll have to, they will be too BIG soon!

Early bird...

I have walked almost every morning for the past week or so. My new routine; leap out of bed, take dogs outside to do thier thing. Give them all a treat and leave them snoozing by the woodstove while I walk. My hair is all wild and I am wearing clothes I would not so much love to be seen in public in, but off I go. I started this out by waking 7 1/2 miniutes, then turning around, so that I did a 15 miniute walk. After two days of that I started going one more light pole than I did the day before. This morning I told myself I didn't have to walk very far, because I am going to do strenuous yard work later in the day. But the air was so cold and crisp, and the brooks were singing so sweetly, and the birds were so enjoyable to see that I walked much further than I have been going. Happily.

AND... I have not had any sugar since Tuesday. Except the after dinner mint I popped into my mouth without thinking. Several moments later, while it was still dancing on my tounge I realized what I had done. I am turning into an avid lable reader... do you realize how hard it is to find bread or cereal that does not contain sugar? Yikes.


And I am writing down the following goal, because I read today, "Goals that are not written are still dreams." I want to lose 40 pounds by August. There. I wrote it.
Now I need to make it happen.

Time and spring and such...

In my normal "be fit" pattern, I have SLACKED off. My last post here was in January, and though I have incorporated a bit more physical activity into my life, and have backed off a wee bit on eating, I have not achieved any real measure of success.

This photo was taken yesterday. My face looks thinner, (my mare does, too!) This thinner face looking back at me, combined with the softer days as winter in New England loses its grip, has me flooded with enthusiasm.

I have walked 15 miniutes each morning for 5 days. Today I didn't want to stop at 15 miniutes ! I passed the bushes with the swelling buds, heard the babble of the brook that runs along the road, basked in birdsong. I wanted to keep walking. In just 5 days my breath is less ragged as I stride along, and it feels less like WORK. More pleasurable.

My goal is to be more fit for riding adventures this season. Isn't my fuzzy horse the cutest?

Making choices...

I am not thin yet. Darn. But I am proud of myself for gaining confidence each day in the fact that I can make healthy choices. Today I really wanted a greasy hamburger from the convenience store down the street. Instead I came home and had leftover chicken and rice curry that I made. It was delicious and satisfying. Except... when I was done I wanted something sweet. I scoured the cabinets, pondered whipping up a batch of cookies, then had an apple. It was terrific, and I am so happy with my choice. I feel I am making positive steps and I am confident that soon I will be able to buy new jeans in a smaller size. That will be sweet!

Baked goods...

It has been a week of baked good over loads and dieting lapses. Undetered, I am back on track and hope to report in with better news tomorrow. *deep sigh*

OK! I am down 5 lbs. My rings and my jeans are both feeling loose. This is a good start! (The husband is down 9 lbs. Shooting him is still on my mind.) I definitely need to increase the exercise. That is proving to be challenging with the cold and ice and such, but I am going to try to be more creative.

Meanwhile, I continue to feel quite motivated. GO me!

YES!

YES! After several discouraging days, the scale settled in on 4.8 lbs. lost. It has been a maddening up and down affair, but I feel the difference in my clothes and how my rings fit, so I am claiming those first pounds to be GONE. Buh-bye!

I am finding some coping tricks that seem to be helping me:
1. Hot tea- I like herbal tea, it comes in a zillion flavors, and it takes me a long time to sip a cup. When I am done I feel more satisfied and fuller. Not as satisfied as if I'd eaten a plate of cookies, but not bad!
2. Brushing my teeth immediately after eating. When I was a kid my mom baked a dessert for us most nights. Even then, it was the highlight of my day! Definitely a foreshadowing of things to come. Anyway, as soon as I finish any meal, and yes, I mean breakfast and lunch, too, I want something sweet. I discovered that if I brush right after I eat, that sweet craving dissipates. Very interesting.
3. Indulging in a little harmless fantasy... what would it be like to buy clothes because I LIKE them, and not JUST because they FIT? Oh... I'd like to find out!

I could just shoot him!

 

My husband started dieting a week after I did. He's lost about 6 pounds already. And he CHEATS! My scale wobbles up and down between 3-4 lbs. lost, and yesterday it said I'd gained a pound OVER my starting weight. Now that is just WRONG, on SO many levels. Dieting with a man makes me curse being female! I am not going to be discouraged. In fact, I am going to go for a walk! Right NOW.

Choices and obstacles...

I just took my first ever tele class. It was hosted by author Patty Digh and David Robinson. They are creative partners and you can learn more about them at: http://37days.typepad.com/thecircleproject/

They were talking about how we set up intentions, (in my case, becoming more fit) and then how our choices help us to succeed or fail. I am going to listen to the class again, but one thing that I took away from this that I find helpful is that how one forms their intention can affect the outcome. For instance, if I started this fitness adventure by saying, "I am going to lose 65 lbs. by the end of the year," I am framing my desire in a fairly negative way, and setting myself up for failure from the start. Losing 65 lbs. is a lofty goal, and one that I obviously have not been successful at in the past. However, in this case, I set my goal up in a positive frame work. "I want to be more fit at 50."

The other interesting thing they said was that all goals have obstacles. And we can either resist meeting that obstacle, or embrace it. No one loves obstacles, right? But the point made was that learning and change happen when we finally embrace and meet that obstacle.

This was timely information, because I am entertaining guests for dinner tonight, and I made a batch of very delicious brownies for dessert. And this morning, after a healthy breakfast, I ATE TWO BROWNIES. Big ones. I enjoyed them immensely, but have been beating myself up all day over it. Judging myself, and badly.

Patti and David suggested that rather than judge, I learn from my experience. So, I am shifting focus. I am going to NOT keep brownie mix in the house, I am going to have the lowest calorie lunch on the planet to make up for my high calorie indulgence, and I am going to go take a longer walk than I had planned. This is a tiny change in my attitude, but I am embracing that change, not kicking myself any further, and looking forward to how I tackled the next obstacle in my path.

Stay tuned.

Some toys are not much fun...

Yo yo's might be fun toys, but the yo yo motion on the scale of someone wanting to see only a downward trend can be maddening! Yesterday, down 4. something pounds. Today, up 1. something. I will be patient, I will be patient, I WILL be PATIENT.
Hopefully tomorrow the yo yo will be on a downward spin.

I am finding the livestrong site to be very helpful in tracking the foods I eat. There is definitely an added incentive of seeing what my intake looked like at the end of the day. I continue to feel quite inspired. You?

Positve Steps...

Today's positive steps:
I signed up on livestrong.com. They have a place where I can type in anything I eat, and it keeps track of calories. I can also keep track of exercise and calories burned. I will go for a nice walk today, probably not too fast due the icy roads, but I'll go just the same. It's all good!

My other positive step for the day was to sign up for an on line fitness program with Johnathan Roche. I am interested to see what that turns out to be like!
(learn more at www.flylady.net)

Today's exercise plan: shovel snow. Lots and LOTS of snow. It is up to my knees. I already shoveled the deck and the small front walkway. Much more to come.

Today's weigh in was far happier... I am down 4.5 lbs. from my start date. This is very encouraging!

Arg...

Ahh... the yo yo's of dieting. Down two pounds, then today, mysteriously, back up.
And I didn't do anything evil, either. I am not losing heart! It's a fluke. It's moon spots, retained fluid,a hormonal tidal surge. I'm having my yogurt for breakfast. Tomorrow is another day, entirely. (Stoopid scale!)

http://biscuitsandjam.com/images/blog/051707_granola.jpg

On this first morning of 2010 I woke thinking of yummy things to cook. And eat. Corn bread? Muffins? Pancakes with butter and syrup? Coffee cake with brown sugar and nuts? I was obviously hungry! Instead of indulging in any of the sweet treats I was imagining, I mixed up granola with apple cider, a sliced apple and some pecans. Microwaved it till hot... and had a delicious, soul satisfying and healthy meal. A good choice, a good way to begin 2010! Happy New Year!

Adding exercise...

It is very cold out. Freeze off appendages cold. So, I am trying to up my exercise in short spells, so I don't turn into a human-sicle. For instance, instead of driving right up to the barn to feed the horses a lunch time snack, I parked at the end of the very long driveway, and walked as fast as I could to the paddock. Got my heart rate up, but wasn't out long enough to lose important body parts to the cold. Later I cleaned out the chicken coop. That might not SEEM like exercise, but it is. Hauling shavings and tools, sweeping, shoveling, scraping, back and forth the the garage to get fresh food and water. So... far from any sort of traditional work out, but moving none the less. I am being much more conscious of what and when I eat. No movement on the scale today, but I am hopeful for what the coming days will bring.

Day 3, Yippee!

It is cold, (25) with a wicked wind blowing new snow. I grabbed my camera and went for a walk. I wore heavy winter boots, to maneuver over the snowy, icy road. I learned that boots are not the best exercise footwear, but still, I got out and got my heart rate up. I only walked about 20 minutes, but that, I say, is better than nothing. I spotted a fluffy Robin in a crab apple. I bet he is wishing he headed south.

The scale reported another pound lost today. GOOD scale! I was pleased with my efforts yesterday:

Breakfast-

cider

kashi bar

Lunch-

Poached egg on toast

Snack-

small ice cream cone

Supper-

(appetizer 4 sinful Ritz crackers with cream cheese!)

lean steak

rice pilaf

asparagus

squash

dessert-

apple turnover

Not exactly diet food, any of it, but controlled portions and not much in the way of in between meal snacking. I am pretty sure it is the in between stuff that is my downfall. I am noticing that I crave "a little something" often during the day, but eat rather little at actual meal time. I am retraining myself! As I type this it is 10:30 AM and I would very much like some lunch. The bowl of cereal I had for breakfast left me wanting more. But, I can wait... because I am going to be more fit by 50!

Things I am doing right...

Day #1 complete, and because God loves me and wants me to be happy, I lost a pound! This despite the evil left over goodies from Christmas that are filling every nook in this house. I tossed some of them, but succumbed to the rum cake. I did keep a list of every thing I ate all day, and I found that since I was trying to NOT focus on food, I was hyper focused on food!!

I did drink lots of water. I keep my trusty Camelbak bottle on hand at all times with cold, filtered water and I generally polish off 2-3 bottles per day. I did NOT exercise, (unless lots of housework counts!) because it was pouring cold buckets of rain all day. Today, though, I will go for a nice walk. Stay tuned, lets see what tomorrow will bring!

The adventure begins!

I woke up before dawn, excited to begin this new adventure. I don't have any set plan, rather I am winging it a bit. I decided to roll several other things into my adventure . Things that will help me feel positive and proactive. Here is the short list:
1. Wear make up daily. I feel better when I do, but am often too lazy. It takes mere moments to swipe on some mascara and put on base and blush. I am worth a few moments!
2. I am going to weigh in daily. When I hopped on the digital scale this morning it said I weighed 0.0! A miracle! Or, I need a new battery for the scale. I'll pick one up today.
3. I am going to be more mindful of what goes in my mouth. I am going to pay SOME attention to calories. Every morning I eat a Kashi breakfast bar. I love them, they are full of nuts and whole grains and they are quite healthy. But I normally stuff, chew and swallow so fast that my brain does not even register that I have eaten. I am going to be mindful of eating that bar from now on. Taste it, enjoy it, savor it. Same goes for whatever else I eat. No eating on the run, I plan to make meals count.
4. I will continue my morning habit of drinking a cup of hot apple cider with 2 tsp. of Bragg's vinegar. I have been drinking the Bragg's in tea or cider almost every day for the last 11 months. I am a bit of a zealot about the stuff. It has vastly improved my skin, makes my aging knees feel like they are not aging, and I have not had a cold since I started taking it. My entire life I have gotten 3 or more bad colds per year. When the cold runs it course I almost always end up with a nasty sinus infection that hangs on and on, making me feel miserable for weeks. I am not sure why the Bragg's works, but it does!

So, today's breakfast was a Kashi bar, 148 calories and a cup of cider, about 150 calories (that is what apple juice would be. I couldn't find a calorie count for cider.) I plan to have some fruit mid morning when I get the munchies. Stay tuned for the next post to see what I cooked up for exercise today and other notes on the "More fit at 50" campaign.

Fat and 49

I am 49 years old. Mostly, I adore my life. I have the most wonderful husband (for 25 years!), a healthy, smart, terrific daughter, a great house... and PETS! 4 dogs, a horse, chickens, a stray cat that sneaks into the garage and a canary. I like my job(s.) My life? It is just blessed. My biggest problem is extra poundage. Rolls of fat, to be exact. Look at my CHINS. No one really needs more than one, do they?

On March 31 I will turn 50. And 50, by any ones account- is a VERY BIG DEAL. Today, taking a post-Christmas nap, it came to me. I don't want turn 50... fat. So I am embarking, publicly, on a "more fit at 50" campaign. I don't want to do anything crazy, like fast for days on end, but I do want to lose some tonnage and change the way I eat and move between now and then. Dr. Laura Schlesinger (love her or hate her, she has some sound ideas!) says that the trick to managing weight is to "eat less, move more." That idea resonates with me, and I am going to put it in action starting tomorrow.

At the present time I am a basically healthy person. I have problems with: poor circulation in my left leg after traumatic damage to my Achilles tendon and surgery to repair it and some heart burn issues that concern me. My blood pressure is a bit higher than it should be. At almost 50 I am staring harder at my mortality than ever before. More than I fear death, I fear INFIRMITY. I don't want to be stuck in a wheel chair or a nursing home in my old age. I think losing weight will help me to live my life longer and healthier and with more zest and feist.
I am rich in so many blessings... my curse is the fat I carry. And I can fix that, if I try. I just need to try. Bringing my efforts public might help me. I could use some support. And some people who want to join me by enriching their lives by losing the weight that is holding them down.
Care to join me on my journey? You need not be turning 50... any age will do. Let's get more fit. Eat less. Move more. Feel better. Live longer, richer, healthier, happier. December 27Th is the beginning.