Return Of The Scale

New Weight Loss Goals - June 2009

1) NO CRAZY DIETING - Prepare healthier meals at home the majority of the time when I eat out, portion myself.

2) Walk at least 10,000 steps each day.

3) Increase weight loss by being more active instead of starting a new diet every day.

Return of the Weight Loss

Well, my successes in weight loss have pretty much evened out. I have lost almost 10lbs and kept it off for a year, however this is not the progress I envisioned. One success that I can claim is that I am not crash dieting. Before I may have lost a lot of weight on any number of crazy diet plans but then gained twice as much (which is what got me here in the first place). But now, my new motto is moderation.

I am trying to rid myself of the “bad food” and “good food” mentality. That which makes me think that I will never have another piece of junk food - when I do - I decide I should eat more because I already ruined the day. It is hard though. I have dieted for so long that I still label foods and try to restrict myself in unrealistic ways. Instead I have been trying to eat healthier food, make my meals at home, and when I do have junk food - eat a small portion.

When I first started this blog, one of my main motivations was to get ready for my sister’s wedding. Well that day has come and gone and I had a great time even at my current weight. Now I will continue to work on my eating habits and increase my activity level.

Prison Workout, Exercising In Small Spaces

Mike Rowe of The Discovery Channels “Dirty Jobs” shows you a quick workout technique called the burpie.

February Steps

Tracking your steps daily with your pedomter means you can’t lie to yourself about your physical activity.  When I first got the pedometer, I was getting around 4,00 steps.  Toward the end of the month, on a regular day, I started walking close to 7,000 steps a day.  However, my goal is still to walk 10,000 steps everyday, so it looks like I have some work in store for March.

Be Active and Have Fun by Playing Sports

One way to stay active is to play sports.  This is a great way to get a workout because time passes and you don’t even realize that you were working out. I know that I will get a workout every Saturday.

I have been playing indoor soccer for a few years now with some friends of mine.  Indoor soccer is great because you can play year round, and you don’t need to get a huge team together.  Our indoor arena doesn’t look quite like this, but you get the idea.  It is pretty casual, and they tolerate the fact that I am out of shape, but I would like to be a better player and that involves better conditioning.

A few years ago, when I was on a heath kick, I was playing soccer and also started a basketball team in the city league.  We were officially the worst team in the history of basketball (I didn’t know that all the other women were professionals - haha).  However, being good wasn’t the point.  I was socializing, playing and getting healthier all at the same time.  This is something I may look into again.

Move More Daily by Tracking your Steps with a Pedometer

My work is beginning a health program so all the employees received pedometers to track our daily steps.  Our goal is walk 10,000 steps a day, which is about 4 miles.  I was walking an avereage of 4,000 steps per day.  I am very competitive (all in a fun way of coarse) so this wouldn’t cut it, especially since I feel like I am letting my team down.  Well this week I broke 10,000 steps in one day, and have been increasing my steps on a daily basis.

A pedometer is just another way to track and be accountable for your daily activity.  Because I have been monitoring myself, I can no longer pretend that I am active, if I am not.  Everything is right there on the screen.  If I need more steps, I can go for a walk or shopping, or do a workout video.  I am also joining a walking club to increase my steps more routinely.

As for this particular pedometer?  I like it.  It has different modes, so you can see your steps, miles, aerobic steps, and calories burned.  It easily clips on your pants or belt and has a saftey string so it doesn’t fall off.  It also allows you to set your stride to record steps more accurately.  An added bonus is that it has a clock and resets your steps on a daily basis.  Then it keeps a record of steps for 7 days.  All in all, this is a great pedometer.  I wish the screen had a backlight, and I already scuffed up the front, but those are the only negative things I have to say about this product.

My New Year’s Resolutions

I believe that these are attainable goals and all things that I like to do. I love fruits and vegetables, but still don’t eat enough. I like to cook, but always run out of ideas, so if I learn new recipes, I will be less likely to eat out. I love to walk my dog, so that is a good way to get exercise. Now the hardest goal for me, is waking up early - snooze button habit. This is a bad habit that is a factor in my weight gain because I don’t feel well when I oversleep. At first I wanted to make a really extreme goal for this, but I think 30 minutes is a good starting place.

New Year’s Resolution - Weight Loss

Of course, probably the most common New Years Resolution is to lose weight. Well, I decided not to make that one this year, because I can make some better resolutions that will help me lose weight in the long-run. These are some tips that I have collected from different places on how to actually accomplish those New Years Resolutions.

1. Make attainable goals (don’t make a resolution you cannot accomplish).
2. Don’t give things up, try replacing them. Instead of “I am not going to eat unhealthy food” - try “I will eat more fruits and vegetables.”
3. Make your resolution something you want to do. (If you hate going to they gym, make a resolution to play tennis, or take the dog for a walk).
4. Make your goal measurable (Take the dog for a walk 3 times per week).

5. Focus on replacing or changing habits that contribute to weight gain, instead of the weight itself
6. Stay Positive - if you make it something fun, you are more likely to accomplish your goals. The last thing you want is more weight on your shoulders (literally and figuratively).

Weight Loss Report - January 14, 2009

Well, I am disappointed that I don’t have a better report. I have slipped back into some of my not so great habits (like drinking soda). On the plus side, I didn’t fall completely into despair, meaning I have been more about moderation. Before if I told myself I wouldn’t have soda and did - I messed up - so I would drink tons more. Now I just have the one, because it wasn’t that great in the first place. Same with eating out. I would tell myself “no eating out” and if I did - I messed up - might as well eat as much as I can and then go out for dinner too. Now I am eating about half of my portions in restaurants, and eating the rest at another meal. So even though I am not seeing results on the scale, I am seeing progress as I change my way of thinking from the “dieter’s mentality” which, I believe, contributes to the endless cycle of weight-gain.

However, I am not in the business of making excuses here. I could come up with so many whoppers, but facts are facts. I am not seeing progress on the scale, I am not eating as healthy as I would like, and I am not exercising. I have some important events coming up that will be here before I know it. (I already have to go bridesmaid dress shopping, and will not fit into normal sizes) So time to work on the eating and the exercising.

Stay Active With Video Games

Many may disagree, but video games can be beneficial.  They can be educational and help with reaction time.  But, now they can also help you lose weight.  Several years ago, I got Dance Dance Revolution when I was on a health kick and it was great, and addicting.  Now I have a Wii and have already seen results from playing with family over the holidays.  I have been playing Wii Sports on a daily basis, and have worked up a sweat and am sore from increased physical activity.  Just one more way to move from sedentary to active.