LGC: Lost Track

I have no clue what week I'm supposed to be writing about, but I do know that I've not posted in a while (too busy with the holidays), so I need to do some 'catching up'.

I gave up on trying to lose weight over the holidays; felt it was pointless, and resolved, instead, to just try to maintain.

Well, even though I gained a bit at the beginning (too many of my homemade chocolate-chip cookies, and too many boxed chocolates), I weighed myself again on New Year's Day, and found myself back to a regular weight (where I'd started before the Holidays). So, I'm pleased with that. Thank the Lord. ;)

For 2008, I've decided to make some real efforts! I'm "upping" my exercise from 3 days a week to 5 days a week, instead. And, I'm aiming to walk 3-4 miles instead of my usual 1-2. I'd also like to take up jogging!

For eating, I'm still working on "mindful, intuitive eating". I need to stop eating at random, and go back to eating ONLY when my stomach is totally empty. Water between meals worked well in the past, so that's my goal now, too.

I've planned not to start until Monday, though (January 7th). Reason being, the kids are still home, and my normal "routine" is still "off" until they go back to school. AND, I'm still "recouping" from the craziness of the holiday season. ;)

I'm not sure if I want to continue with the "Look Great in '08 Challenge". I suppose I can keep going until the deadline (now extended until February?), but after that -- if it starts over, or there's a new challenge -- I think I'm going to let it go. Much as I've GREATLY appreciated the supportive comments & encouragement from fellow challenge-members, I just find it too much to keep my blog updated on a weekly basis. I'd prefer to blog when the mood strikes. :-?

LGC: Week 8

Another week gone. It's getting closer & closer to Christmas, and then the New Year. Sheesh. :-?

This week saw an increase in my activity level. I read, recently, that just with activity (no eating changes!), you can lose up to a pound a week. And, I set out to "prove" that by increasing my activity level. I sat down last Sunday and mapped out a "plan" for how I could move more each day, and I've done my best to stick to it -- or, some semblance of it, anyway.

Monday found me walking with my DVD. I'd intended to walk 3 miles, but I ended up only doing 2. Fine, though, as I still got in the "movement".

Tuesday I walked to town -- about a 10 minute walk there, and another 10 back.

Today I attempted to go for a bike ride -- was going to bike up to town. But, after getting only 1/2 a block away, I was so much in pain in my calves & thighs, that I just ended up going around the block, and then putting my bike back in the garage, and shaking my head, saying to myself, "WHAT WAS I THINKING?!!!" LOL.
(Biking will have to be reserved for later, when I'm stronger!)

I intend to either use my DVD to walk tomorrow & Friday, or I'll do some major housecleaning ... that counts. ;o) Either way, I'm going to keep up my increased movement. Then, come Saturday, I'll weigh myself, and we'll see how things fared.

As for eating, I did okay for the end of last week, but then the weekend was another "WEAK-end", and Monday found me scrounging for food all day -- grazing, I do believe people call that. Yesterday I was battling myself -- I managed to get through the afternoon without grazing. I had a pudding cup, but that was all. The rest of the day I waited until I was hungry again. ;o)

Today was better, though. It always is when I'm not at home. I have no access to constant food, and therefore I don't eat my afternoons away.

Praying tomorrow and Friday, and ESPECIALLY the weekend!, will be good.

LGC: Week 3

Still not doing well. I'm still pigging out and eating when I'm not *truly* hungry. I even stoop so low as to melt down pb & chocolate-chipits, and eat it straight from the bowl! :-(

I need to change my mindset about things. I'm still in "diet mode", I think. And, that doesn't help. I've been feeling a lot of things lately:

deprived - because I said I was going to "fast" from certain "trigger" foods

stressed - because of the many *big* life changes taking place (new job/etc)

lonely - because God seems to be calling certain people out of my life

hungry - not so much in the physical sense as in the 'spiritual'
(and I keep 'feeding' the physical instead of realizing that's not it)

And so, we press on. I have to pray about all of the above. I can't "fix" this on my own.

Look Great challenge - Goals

Well, the challenge has begun. And, already I'm off to a slow start. Due to a silly (but, thankfully small!) injury, I've not been able to start in with my exercise like I'd planned. And, I've not really done anything with my eating habits, yet, either.

Irregardless, I'm still going to "press on". ;o)

For the challenge, I plan to:

* drink more water
(keeping a water bottle with me throughout the day; drinking at set times when I already do other things... trying to "link" them so it becomes habit)

* consistently exercise
(walking, etc. for 30 minutes, at least 3 times per week)

* follow my hunger cues
(eat only when physiologically hungry, and stop before "stuffed")

* let God lead
(trust that He knows what's best; stop giving in to my own whims)

* get enough sleep
(seven or more hours a night would be best)

* keep snacks to a minimum
(90% of the time I should choose "healthy"; the other 10% can be indulgence)

* eat more fruits, veggies & whole grains
(I don't eat near enough, so I need to make this a habit)

* watch my portion sizes
(already use a smaller plate, but tend to pile it... gotta watch that!)

So, hopefully next week I can get back to exercising Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. And, I'm going to start tomorrow morning with the other bits. There is no excuse. I am the only person standing in the way of my reaching my goals.

Oh, and just for the record, my goal is to be at least 15 pounds lighter by the end of the challenge... but, I can't record my progress in that area, so you'll just have to guess by whether my posts are full of "progress" or "stuck-ness". ;-P