Inspired by a friend of mine who is currently teaching in Japan and started a blog about her life there for those of us at home who miss her, I have decided to start this blog about my journey to lose weight and become healthier.
I have had too many false starts and good intentions that I've given up on in the past to count. I hope having this blog and (trying) to write every day will help keep me accountable, since it's online where everyone and anyone can read it and comment. I've actually stuck with it 7 full days so far, but taking it a bit at a time and starting in phases, introducing a new phase each week. I've already stuck with it longer than I have before, and hopefully this will continue.
I'll try to write every day, about my daily life, work towards my goals, and struggles with reaching them. My ultimate goal is to reach a size 12, or about 134 pounds in weight. I have a larger bone structure, so this is what my doctor recommends. Otherwise I'd look anorexic! I also have some health issues that I hope losing weight and becoming more active will reduce or eliminate either the condition (high blood pressure) or the medication I have to take for the disease (diabetes), plus taking the weight off will hopefully make it easier to move around. I have a bad hip with not much cartliadge left in it, and even walking gets painful after awhile.
So, my progress. I started (again) trying to walk at least four nights a week back in June, then stopped because it got so hot. I lost 9 pounds during that time (about a month), but got discouraged because it wasn't coming off and because it was so hot, even at dusk, I just didn't care if I exercised or not.
After a lot of soul searching, I'm finally going at it-in what I believe to be the right way, for me at least. I'm doing something each week, having weekly goals, and adding to what I do each week until I work up to where I want to be, then once that gets easy I'll add even more to it. I finally figured out that I'd do up a meal plan and workout plan, stick to it one day for the workout and maybe two or three with the meal's, then just give up, because I was trying to do too much all at once and it was too much.
I also decided I'd reward myself with something each week that I keep to my goals, but NOT with any kind of food. Nothing expensive, just something less than $10.00. If what I want is more than that, I put up the money each week I meet my goals until I have the money for the reward. I also have an ultimate reward-a new wardrobe-complete with bikini-and a cruise with my wonderful boyfriend (3 years this November 27th).
Anyway, I'd kept off that 9 pounds, much to my astonishment, and after this first week of really working, I've lost a total of 12.2 pounds! (I started at 284, now down to 271.8. I know it's not much to many people, but to me it's quite a milestone!)
Phase 1. A week ago tomorrow, I started with a workout video, Jillian Michael's 30 day shred. I sat and watched the whole first session workout to see if I'd be able to physically do all of the steps (because of my hip) and to see what I'd need in way of equipment. Thankfully all I needed was a mat and dumbbells, which I had. Each session on the video (there are 3 session) has three different circuts (3 minutes of strength training, 2 of cardio, and 1 of abs each circut).
I wanted to try to do the whole video, but quickly found out that wasn't happening. Therefore phase 1 consisted of being more mindful of what I eat (less fattening foods, less carbs, and smaller portions) without actually counting calories at this point (that's phase 4). Phase 1's workout included doing the first circut of session 1 of the video 3 days of the week, and walking one lap at least 5 nights (one lap=0.7 miles around our neighborhood). I am proud to say I accomplished this!!! The first time I have EVER stuck to a goal for a week!
Phase 2. This week starts phase 2. I am to do my workout video 5 days this week (starting today), doing 2 circuts of session 1, walk two laps every night this week-weather permitting (as in rain/storms, that stopped me last night) and continue being mindeful of what I eat and how much. I have been making better choices, eating more vegetables and fruits, less carbs, and fewer fats (such as using less butter when cooking).
So far so good-I did my workout video this morning and walked this evening, and ate healthy all day. I had originally wanted the five days for the workout video to be Monday-Friday, but realized last week that wouldn't be possible because we have bi-weekly meetings at work on Thursday mornings and I attend court for work usually at least twice a month on Tuesdays. Yes I could get up earlier (I get up at 6am-work at 9am), but the problem I run into is being able to take a shower and get ready for work in time to make it to court and the meetings because of my boyfriend showering in the morning on his work schedule, I don't get in the shower until nearly 7am. So I say at least 5 days a week, meaning on the weeks I have court and/or meetings, I work out on Saturday and/or Sunday.
Well, off to bed to get a good night's sleep. Six AM comes early!
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