New Project number.....

I had a small loss, so my new number is, Project 65.5. Friday's weigh-in had me down -.5lbs. I wasn't sure if I would show a loss this last week. I had to give my knee a rest and didn't get all my walks or work outs accomplished. I'm happy for this small drop, it's slow but I'll take it!

My diet wasn't awful but it needs improvement. I need to start planning meals out for the week and shop accordingly. That needs to be my goal for the week, meal planning and groceries. Tomorrow I will be writing the list and reading my cookbooks.

Does anyone have healthy cookbooks they really like and would recommend?

Weekends are no longer my friend.

I'm struggling with weekends. My schedule is completely thrown off course. Both kids are home, the husband is home. My quiet, structured mornings are chaos. That sets the tone for the rest of the day. Trying to maintain the new habits I'm implementing is much harder on the weekends.

I've had things to do the last few weekends but they take a back seat and never get done. I wind up running other errands or waiting for hubby to finish his projects. My workouts don't happen. Meal planning becomes a challenge. I have something healthy in mind but either hubby makes something else or we get too worn out to care.

This weekend we had one sick child, it's turned into two sick kids today and I'm starting to feel sick. I don't know what to do for meals today because I haven't been grocery shopping in 1 1/2 weeks. That errand was never accomplished this weekend.

I don't know how to make the weekends easier and keep them from throwing me off my exercise routine and healthy eating. I'm afraid the scale will have bad results this week, that's how off plan I've become since Friday. I need to figure this out, soon!

New Project number is.......

This morning was my weigh in day, the day I mentally rename my Project. What did I get this time? Project 66. I lost -1.5lbs this last week. I feel really good about it.

Last week I didn't blog about my weigh in. It was -.5 and I was happy but I knew it was a small amount. But I couldn't post, why? I knew a few people that lost more weight and were depressed it didn't met their expectations, so why should I feel good about my -.5?

Here's WHY: It was my success! I'm making better choices. The junk food is out of the house. I'm getting exercise 5 days a week! That's huge for me after fighting it for so long. I'm also eating good meals. I'm making better choices for snacks. I'm grabbing grapes, fresh green beans, 1 oz of cheese, or a fat free yogurt instead of a handful of chips or other empty calorie. I'm increasing my protein intake, lowering my carb intake. I'm making gradual changes and I Like It!

I may never have the large weight loss weeks and I'm ok with it. I am insulin resistant thanks to another condition I have, losing weight has always been slow for me. Is that going to becoming an Excuse? NO WAY! But knowing it helps me feel good about my successes. I'm making changes I will keep for the rest of my life. To borrow a phrase, I will get there, One Day At a Time.

My Knee

It took 3 hours at the doctor today. I'm closer to an answer but it will take a few more weeks.

After manipulating my knee and trying pressure points my doctor sent me downstairs for an X-ray. After more manipulation and unnatural positions I had the X-ray and went back upstairs to wait for the result.

First picture, everything looks great, no problem. Second one, that showed the knee from the side, has this mysterious spot behind my knee. He called it a floater and named a few possible causes. He then referred me to an Orthopedic Surgeon, who I can't get in to see until October 6th.

He thinks they'll want to remove the "floater" and they'll visually check my soft tissue versus spending money on an MRI. Hopefully nothing else is wrong and it's only the "floater".

Tonight my knee is in agony from all the manipulation. Generally I can walk without pain, it's other activities that aggravate it. I haven't decided if I'll do my work out tonight, I don't want to make it worse. I'll give it an hour of rest and decide.

What's working, what's not.

I'm 2.5 weeks into this journey. I don't want to call this a diet, that has so many negative associations and implies it ends at some point. I am going for a lifestyle change. I want these changes to be permanent.

Here's some of what I've learned so far; what is and is not working.

What is working:

• Telling people. Having some accountability makes a difference for me.
• Planning meals. I stay on track if I have a plan.
• Tracking my food. I need to see what I've eaten otherwise it's too easy to overeat.
• Exercising. It's tough but I'm doing it, 4-5 times a week and it's getting better and easier.
• Getting rid of the junk food. Can't eat what's not around!
• Following other blogs. It's motivation for me to see others who are succeeding and those just starting.
• Journaling. I keep a private journal that is helping me deal with these changes.
• Taking things one day at a time. There's always tomorrow.
• Having fruits, veggies and snack food measured out in baggies, containers, ready to grab.
• Taking 10 minutes. If I find myself feeling the munchies, I do something else for 10 minutes until it passes.
• Celebrating the small successes! A good meal, walking further, clothes fitting etc., all proof this IS working!
• A slip is Okay, I can regroup and keep going.

What doesn't work:

• Competing with someone. I want to see others lose weight too, I don't care who loses it faster or loses more. I don't want to feel that pressure.
• Not planning meals. I don't eat enough protein, fiber or I eat too many carbs if I don't plan.
• Letting a bad day get the best of me.
• Not working out. I have to be moving or I won't lose weight. Simple as that!
• Getting down on myself for slipping.
• GIVING UP! That's NOT an option!

I know I'll learn more and be able to add to this list in time. It's a learning process and I signed up for the long haul.

Small piece of motivation

My weekend seems to have carried partly into this week. It's had more downs than ups. I've had a lot of emotions to manage but I'm making it through.

My left knee has been causing me a lot of pain. I've kept up on my work outs and walking, I just don't push too hard. I see my doctor next week, I'm hoping for physical therapy and not a "pill" to mask the problem.

I've been doing so-so with my diet. I need to get in the habit of planning meals and having the right food in the house. We got rid of the junk food, that's part of the battle.

I did have one GOOD thing today. I had to go for my yearly interview at work, I know it's crazy but we have to interview every fall. I wasn't sure what to wear, it's been hot outside and I know the office is warm. I picked a skirt and a shirt to "try", I haven't worn them all summer. They never fit right, always a little too tight. I know I haven't lost much but those few pounds lost and the working out, the clothes were comfortable! Definitely a feel good moment and motivation to keep going!

I'm keeping at these changes, every day is one step closer!

The SMELL....

It wasn't easy to eat today. Every time I went to get food, I gagged. The reason you may ask? A rancid smell creeping up from the basement, engulfing the house. We assumed it was a dead animal, such as a mouse that found it's way in and died. I can't stomach deceased animals so I refused to look for it, waiting instead for hubby to find it.

Every time I entered the kitchen, I'd be hit with that smell and lose my appetite or munchies.

The result, I ate very well today.

Tonight we discovered it was the water trap on the basement refrigerator that was overflowing, growing and smelly. No dead animal.

It worked to keep me eating well but I'll pass on using this trick again!

One of those weekends......

I didn't have the best of weekends. I'm fighting my migraines again, going on day 5 of continuous pain. I can't get in to see my doctor until the 23rd, grrrrrrr! If only my emergency medication would work but it might as well be a placebo! The headache was bad enough I didn't work out or get a walk in. I also didn't care as much about what I ate. But I didn't eat poorly, I just didn't plan meals or measure. I think for how I was feeling that I did ok, not great but I'm not going to beat myself up over it.

Yesterday I had one of those bad days when nothing goes right. Had a fight with hubby that really upset me. But I was good, I didn't soothe how I felt with any food. Yay me!

Today the headache is still mild and it's cool this morning. Both kids started school, one in 5th grade, the other started kindergarten. I'm feeling emotional but I have that under control. So with the kids at school, nice weather and only a mild headache, I'll get my walk in early.

Wooo-Hooo.....It's a good morning!

I've decided that Friday's are my weigh-in day. Once I was awake, functioning, kids dressed, at least one of them! They have eaten and are settled in for the morning. It was time for me to get ready and get that first weigh-in of my new lifestyle (no diet word for me!).

I'm happy. I went from Project 71.3 to New Project 68. I lost 3.3 pounds in my first week. It was actually less than a week, I started eating right and working out last Sunday. But this is my weigh-in day.

I feel like I'm off to a good start!

Measurements

Last night I decided to take my measurements. I've been dreading this but wanted it accurate so with a week into my new way of eating, it was time. Reluctantly I dug through my sewing kit, anxious to be done with my starting measurements.

I took a deep breath, tried to relax and checked the first one. OMG! I felt myself spinning. I had an idea where I was at but THIS number, in the 70's? How could that be right? Grabbing hold of the counter I took another deep breath. Slowly I looked back at the tape, in total disbelief. I pulled the tape away and took another look. Surely someone was playing a trick. Alas, I was playing one on myself. I had the tape backwards. I started with the end of the tape at 100 something, not the beginning at 1. WHEW! I let out a half laugh, half sigh of relief. The second try was a number I expected.

Don't try this late at night when you're exhausted!

Lists, choices, decisions

I'm feeling good today. Last night I took a 50 minute walk, I don't know how far I walked. I need to get a pedometer.

I'm starting all my lists. I don't know how to do much of anything without a list. It's an obsession.

For equipment, I only need to get a pedometer. I have work out equipment at home, I have a gym membership, I have the work out clothes. I have plenty of water bottles. I need to dust off my food scale. I know I even own a pedometer but haven't any idea where I stashed it. It's possible I tossed it during one of my, it's hopeless phases.

Next I need to pick a food plan to follow. I need some direction as to how much I can eat, how to plan my meals and most importantly, my snacks. Those are my downfall. I'm considering Weight Watchers or the Biggest Loser plan. I like both and they are both easy to use.

Next I need to make the grocery list. Tomorrow I can go shopping so I'll work on that list tonight.

Tonight I'll take that walk again. It feels so good to be doing this for myself!

Getting started.....

So far I'm doing well, eating properly and picking good snacks. I still need to clean out the cupboards and make a trip to the grocery store. That may have to wait until Thursday, payday. I get a little funny when our bank account hits a specific number and I don't want to spend anymore money. But I'll make my list, cut my coupons and be ready.

Weigh-in day: This one is causing me grief. I need to pick one day for my weigh-in's. I will probably pick Tuesday or Friday. I like the idea of Friday the best because it will help me now how to plan my weekends. Tuesdays will be best if I go on Weight Watchers because that's the day I'd attend meetings. Decisions, Decisions. And this isn't even taking into account of all the feelings of weighing in. Blah.... :-) But soon, it will become a positive thing, that I am determined!

Work Outs: I haven't started this in any structured fashion. I wake up with plans to work out but something always changes it. For example this weekend, I was going to take an hour walk. Instead we put in a new closet system and I was moving clothes and lifting boxes. I was sore the next day! It was equivalent to a walk. And now I've been fighting a migraine. After tonight's activities I plan to take that neighborhood walk, headache or not. It's time to stop making excuses!