Week One Done - How'd I Do?

I can't believe it's only been one week since returning from Philly and beginning my new life journey.

7 WHOLE days since awakening with a new plan, a good plan, a plan to get healthy - and DO it this time.

But here we are, ending the first week, beginning anew.

And how did I do, week one?

AWESOME.

I pulled unBELIEVable numbers my first week and I say that because if I hadn't seen the scale with my own two eyes each day, I would have been hard pressed to think it true.

Let's recap:

Day One: 306.4 - Ugh, seriously? My heaviest probably EVER (that I can remember)

Day Two: 304 - Okay, good; a nice 2.4 drop, YAY!

Day Three: 304 - Grrrr, I don't like staying the same but I'm not giving up.

Day Four: 302.6 - Yay, the scale is moving again, happy dance!

Day Five: 300 - Still moving, I'm stoked!

Day Six: 296.4 - WOW, is this for REAL?

Day Seven: 294.8 - It's happening, people!

Day Eight: 292.6 - Yep, at the end of week one I am DOWN 14 FREAKIN' pounds.

Wow.

And I have to tell you, it wasn't easy AND it wasn't hard. I recorded ALL my food and exercise each day, learned a bit more about weighing things on the food scale, drank my 8 plus (more like 13-15) glasses of water each day, journaled HERE each day (sometimes twice), and generally held myself accountable in ways that I had not (in ALL my fat adult life) EVER done before.

I avoided sweets all week and honestly didn't crave them - I didn't even cave to the jello/cool whip back up, barely even gave it a thought.

Although...I really can't say no sweets ALL week. I did have a drumstick ice cream last night. I wanted a bit of chocolate ice cream and when I went to the store and perused the selections I chose the drumstick for two reasons:

1 - all the chocolate ice creams I looked at said 300 cals for 1/2 a cup. Come ON, people, a 1/2 a cup? Have you MET a chubby girl (me) who can ONLY do a 1/2 a cup? Maybe someday but NOT today.

and...

2 - the drumstick was only 350 calories total and it was BIG. And now I don't have any leftover ice cream in the house to tempt me. I ate it, it was good, and it didn't make me want to bury my face in a vat of it. YAY me!

Let's see, what else?

Oh, I didn't avoid the alcohol all week either. I had 3 drinks total, one on one day, and two on the other. My preferred drink is carb free anyway, but because I'm staying away from soda, I didn't go crazy. Not good to go cra-cra with the liquor ANYway, right? Right!

Oh, and hmmm...

I worked out with my trainer, Darcelle, on Wednesday and Thursday, and she gave me homework for Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Technically Friday was my day off (you should never work out more than 6 days per week), but I still managed a 15 minute slow walk that day because we didn't know I was going to take Friday off until I had already walked my sore a** to the gym - Darcelle was nice enough to bring me home.

I did indeed do all my homework and Darcelle, my wonderful friend and trainer, was in daily contact  with me, boosting me UP and making sure I stayed on track. I didn't have a choice but to get it done anyway; she told me, if I didn't do it, it would be added to the next day. Scary? Yes, but exactly what I need!

I do believe that sums up my week as far as food, exercise, and overall weight loss journey stuff goes.

What else happened? (...you ask, nervously, hoping I'm wrapping this up...)

My daughter broke her wrist, we may have found an apartment, I got to swim in the ocean, I began writing my book, and I discovered a side of someone that I never would have believed existed.

All in all?

A busy, productive, CRAZY week!

Ready for the next one? I've got salads to talk about, secrets to reveal, a contest to share, and plenty of other good and/or boring and/or funny stuff to bring you, YAY!

Till next time!

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Starting Weight: 306.4

Goal Weight: 150

Today's Weight: 292.6

Total Lost to Date: 14

© 2012 Dear Diary, I'm Fat...Now What?

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Day 7 - And I Just Keep Dropping...

...my jaw to the FLOOR, people!

Another 1.6 pound weight loss yesterday!

That makes it 11.6 pounds down in 6 days; though I do LOVE how My Fitness Pal rounds UP, YAY!

Today marks the last day of the first week of my new life and I am more motivated than ever to do this, do it right, and share it with the world (more on that later).

Oh, and did Papi and I take our afternoon stroll on the beach?

Of course!

For the first time in as long as I can remember, I rewarded my 10 pound loss with something other than food AND it was exercise - disguised as a "romantic interlude with my honey".

How darn lucky am I?

I also got to dip in the ocean - AMAZING!

I hadn't actually swam in our ocean here in Maine (I know, 5 years, what IS WRONG with me, people?!!) before. Oh a toe dip here and there, maybe just there...in 5 whole years.

And I love the ocean. Jumping waves, feeling the power of God, yelping at seaweed tossed around my legs - just simply LOVE it.

...just thankful for my blessings, this morning!

AND that the power was only out for a short while, too, today. I have so many things to do this afternoon that I was afraid I wouldn't get this post in.

But here it is, and here I am, 11.6 pounds GONE.

I'm making good choices, I'm sticking to my guns, and it is WORKING!

I've gotta run now, but I will be here tomorrow, sharing my weekly numbers, some other fun stuff, and a bit about my salad experiment.

Till next time!

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Starting Weight: 306.4

Goal Weight: 150

Today's Weight: 294.8

Total Lost to Date: 11.6

© 2012 Dear Diary, I'm Fat...Now What?

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Day 6 - 10 Pounds Down? WOW!

That's right, I have lost 10 pounds in five days and I am ECSTATIC!

I knew when I woke up this morning, that the scale was going to love me. I could feel it all over but especially in my middle.

Uh, what?

Yah, you know...

Sometimes you feel bloated in the middle (your belly) and sometimes you feel "skinny".

Not skinny, skinny; in the true sense of the word but just...

Ah, I don't know...sometimes I just can't explain what I mean.

I know, surprises abound.

ANYway.

10 pounds, WOOHOO!

Now listen here...

I don't expect numbers like this to continue. Especially since today's workout homework only consists of 4 minutes total - Burpees, yay (dripping with sarcasm over here).

And again, I WARN YOU, weighing in every day can be detrimental to your overall success; however, even knowing those psychological effects, I must do the daily thing for at least another week. We'll revisit changing it up next, next Tuesday.

For now, it's keeping me motivated and I am certainly not going to wreck that momentum.

And that's it for now, dear diary. I'm off to do my Burpees, and then to get some house stuff done. Later, Papi promised me a walk on the beach (totally not something we've ever, EVER done, look at us goooooo...YAY!).

Till next time!

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Starting Weight: 306.4

Goal Weight: 150

Today's Weight: 296.4

Total Lost to Date: 10

© 2012 Dear Diary, I'm Fat...Now What?

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Day 5 cont'd - My First Asparagus and the Sweet Potato Fiasco

Oh boy, oh BOY, I just had to jot a quick note...

Tonight I cooked dinner...

...which I typically (prepare for a small tirade) do not like to do because I am lazy, uninterested, scared that it will taste like crap...whatever.

I CAN cook.

And the things I do, I do very well; but I am the baker in our house, HE'S the cook.

But tonight I wanted to surprise him with dinner; my poor Papi, working so hard to meet deadline.

...and...

I was at the grocery store today, picking up some more healthy YUMS and I happened across the asparagus section.

Now, I LOVE asparagus. MMMmmmmmmMMMMmmm MMM!

But I am picky about how it's cooked. Not mushy, not tooooo al dente. Just right.

Right?

Well, I bought some of that ol' asparagus, honestly thinking that HE would figure it out because that's what he does; hops online and in an hour we are dining ROYALE!

But as I traversed my day, I realized that I wanted to cook dinner tonight. I wanted to try to cook the asparagus. I've never, in all my 40 years, attempted to cook asparagus...

What in H E double hockey sticks is WRONG with me?

Don't answer that, we don't have time (it's movie night, ya know?).

ANYway...

So I went online, searched for the easiest (not going to lie) way, simply because it WAS my first time and I didn't want to mess it up too badly.

Long story just a tiny bit longer?

I made asparagus for the first time EVER.

And it was GOOD! I could just be saying that but Papi said it was, and I liked it; so anyone else would simply be out voted - besides, we ate it all up!

Chicken, roasted asparagus, and mashed sweet potatoes (gluten free, BTW).

YUMMMMY!

Oh, and about the sweet potato fiasco?

Yah, I thought that a 1/2 cup wouldn't be enough. I had plenty of calories left for the day and so I loaded a whole cup onto my plate.

And then I promptly took half right back off and saved myself 110 calories!

Here's Dinner:

...before I removed the excess sweets.

I'm full, he's full, and I am feeling pretty darn proud of myself; not gonna lie!

and what's this all weigh in at?

297 calories!

Yep, I know. SWEET!

Now to figure out what to do with 1100 extra calories - mmMMmm, celery and peanut butter anyone?

Okay, gotta run; it's my turn to choose the movie, tonight!

Till next time!

Day 5 - Short 'n' Sweet and Oh So GOOD!

HAPPY Saturday to you!!

And what a GREAT Saturday this is starting out to be...

I'm up early today because I have lots to do and I just want to 'git 'er dun'! That way, I can enjoy some down time later, YAY!

So, first up this morning, another weigh in - I TOLD you that this would be a daily thing for the next little while, bear with me!

I woke up this morning, not feeling anything toward the scale. I couldn't tell today if I was up or down. THAT made me a little nervous but I couldn't NOT get on the scale, either.

CONQUERING my fears, I am.

And my reward for doing so?

2.4 pounds DOWN!

YAY.

...er...maybe that's not a reward simply for stepping on the scale. I really have been such a good girl these first four days.

6.4 pounds down total. Now THAT'S a nice reward for being such a good girl. YAY!

It's also why this post is short 'n' sweet this morning.

Of to the gym to do my homework (yes, my trainer gave me homework this weekend AND I'm excited about it...weird but GOOD).

Then groceries and...blah blah blah.

You know, Saturday stuff.

Enjoy the day, enjoy your life, and keep on keepin' on!

Till next time!

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Starting Weight: 306.4

Goal Weight: 150

Today's Weight: 300

Total Lost to Date: 6.4

© 2012 Dear Diary, I'm Fat...Now What?

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Day 4 cont'd - Rewarding Yourself

Yesterday I wrote about setting goals - if you didn't see it, why NOT???

Oops, I forget that not EVERYONE is reading my diary...yet.

So, if you didn't see it, pop right over here and check it out. Then scootch back to this post and read on...

Now that you've got your goals written down, you've got a great start to your weight loss success. One of the best ways to stay focused on reaching each goal is to remember that you will reward yourself once you get there.

YAY.

Presents. Fun. Happiness.

REWARDS. 

But whoa, slow down. We've got to talk about the KINDS of rewards you will give yourself for reaching a goal.

If you are anything like me (and you aren't reading my diary JUST to be nosy, right?? You DO see yourself a tiny bit in me, dontcha?)...so if you can relate, then this might sound familiar:

My number ONE way to reward myself with a job (whatever it might be) well done?

FOOD.

Yep, so many, many, many...too many times to count...I have rewarded myself with food.

I lost 10 pounds - let's EAT!


I got a raise - let's EAT!


I didn't have 2 rolls with dinner (this is two-fold) - let's eat that snickers for dessert!


I found my birth family - let's eat (Italians can COOK, just sayin')

WHATever your reasons, if you are even a tad bit like me, you tend to honor the ups (and downs) in your life, with food.

Well, not anymore, people. 

Put the brakes on that crazy train because I'm here to tell you that you cannot continue to reward good behavior with bad behavior if you want to reach your weight loss goal(s).

Okay?

Okay.

So, now what?

You still need rewards - and you are going to get them.

ANYthing you want - besides food (we are learning a valuable lesson here, to be shared in a later post!).

So, set your goals; and then pick your rewards to go with them. Again, planning is everything. I currently have 9 goals on paper.

Here are my 9 rewards (in no particular order):

Buy gel inserts for my workout shoes


Buy a workout compression suit


Buy a night compression suit


Buy new workout gear (don't spend gobs of money on clothes yet, you are shrinking, remember?)


Buy 2  new outfits


Take my daughter to the park and PLAY with her


Get a mani/pedi


Have a spa day with your bestie


Buy a whole new wardrobe (donate your BIG GIRL/GUY clothes to a worthwhile charity first)

There you have it, you have your goals, you have your rewards, and you are well on your way to succeeding in your weight loss!

Remember, whatever your goal, large or small, it's important to spoil/reward yourself for a job well done.

Today, I'm taking a fabulously relaxing soak in my whirlpool tub. I've checked every item off my to-do list and I've earned that soak - which is also benefiting my weight loss and I do love a two-fer; more on that in a later post (yes, I have LOTS to share).

Till next time!

Day 4 - Oh Happy Day - My Scale Loves Me

Sometimes...oh, I'd say most of the time, my scale and I do NOT get along.

It's mostly my fault; though, I'm not taking all the blame. That thing I step on daily (for the next little while) is a fickle fellow.

But today, my scale and I are getting along like two peas in a pod, like Fred and Ethel wished they could, like chocolate and peanut butter (of which I have not indulged OR missed in 4 whole days!).

In celebration of this happy occasion, I give you this:

...because it is exactly what rolled through my mind when I saw that number.

OH HAPPY DAY!

So what's that number? (I'm sure you are asking, exasperated and wishing I'd get to the point...)

Okay, okay, alright, already.

1.4

Yep. I lost 1.4 pounds yesterday, which brings me to a total of 3.8 pounds down at the start of day four and I am now 21.2 pounds away from reaching my first goal.

WooHOO!

I have to say, I like that MyFitnessPal rounds up, lol. Just sayin'...

Oh, and ABOUT that - My Fitness Pal is a GREAT way to keep track of your daily food, exercise, water, and other notes you want to jot down. If you haven't checked it out, go right here and do so. If you have an (oh SO) fabUlous blog like this one, you can even snatch a widget that shows your progress right on your blog (see upper right hand corner for mine).

I'll be talking more about My Fitness Pal as we go but for now I'll just say thanks. I'm having a wicked good time filling in my stats each day and it is SERIOUSLY helping me stay accountable for what I deem worth to grace my lips!

Now I know, the scale isn't always going to go MY way - down, down, down. And weighing myself daily is actually not the best way to do things, psychologically. But I told you, it's what I'm doing for the next couple of weeks. We'll revisit THAT later!

For now?

I'm off to the gym and then I've got a BUNCH of other stuff to do today. BzzzzzY!

Hope you all have a FANTABULISTIC day and please do keep on keepin' on.

Till next time!

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Starting Weight: 306.4

Goal Weight: 150

Today's Weight: 302.6

Total Lost to Date: 3.8

© 2012 Dear Diary, I'm Fat...Now What?

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