Pretty Darned Proud of Myself

I got home this evening from my trip to New England and I must say I am very proud of myself! I did not over indulge in any way! I allowed my self little treats here and there (a bowl of icecream, a small Del's Lemonade...) but I made wise choices the whole time.

One of the things that often comes up in my therapy is that things "are what they are". I am learning to have less expectations and that is a good thing all around.
For instance, when I arrived to visit my brother (who I haven't seen in a year) and he said "I can't hang out with you tonight because Mike's coming over and we are going to watch the game.." instead of being super annoyed like I usually am when he blows me off, I just recited in my head "It is what it is, he is no different than usual" and it really helps.

I think that mantra is appropriate with weight loss. The scale says what it says. My response to what it says is what is going to predict any future change whether it be in numbers or in peace of mind.

I'm glad to be home.

Going East

I'll be out of town until Saturday so there won't be any blog updates. I'm leaving with kind of an upset stomach so that might help with my usual penchant to overeat when I visit family!

Kind of bummed because I won't really be able to train for my C25K..but it's just a 4 day break..my knees could probably use the break.

Happy rest of your week!

Good Things Come to Those who Wait

FINALLY, the scale moved! I haven't been writing much about the actual weight, just updating my ticker when it goes down. It hadn't gone down in 10 days. I wasn't terribly surprised since I had my monthly visitor but it was a bit frustrating. I was incredibly proud of myself this week though as I weighed every day, hoping that it would go down even .5 lbs so I could update a loss. I did not feel depressed, hopeless, apathetic.. I was very aware that TOM can mess up water retention and I just weighed and waited. Yesterday, all of a sudden I was going to the bathroom it seemed every 5 minutes...bye bye water! Hello scale loss!

ON a not good note, I just feel down the stairs and popped something in my already pre-arthritic knees..hopefully it doesn't mess with my workout plans today...GRRRR...

Also I am HALF WAY to my first goal (of weighing less than a baby elephant!) Once I reach that I will also be less than I've ever been here on my blogs. I think in January 2010 I hit 253.5 and then it was all over...gained 30 lbs back in less than a year. I look forward to breaking that weight soon!

Heading into Battles

Wednesday I leave for New England with my girls. We'll be flying out Wednesday and returning Saturday PM. I feel strong but every time I go to visit family I come home with no determination for anything. (and then I gain 40 lbs) My brother and I are on the outs (as usual). I just need to take lots of breaths and be mindful of each moment and not stuff things in my mouth when the moments aren't wonderful. I've got a good plan of where I am going, who I am seeing, so it will all be fine, right? I'm hoping so!

I'm also a little nervous to head into week 2 of C25K. 90 seconds of jogging at a time
. I know it's not alot but still, lugging this 269 lb body around takes a lot of energy.

Battles. May I be victorious!

Completed Week 1 of C25K

Even though it was Easter, I was determined to complete Week 1 of the Couch to 5 K Program. We packed the family and the dog into the van and went to a nearby park with a limestone trail. I still feel I need to control my breathing, but I recover very easily. I think I might want to get an IPOD because as the distance of jogging gets longer it is a lot harder to do without music. I run with a timer so I know when I'm supposed to walk and run, but I need something smaller. Mother's Day is coming up....

It was a fabulous day. We tried a new church (we are forever looking for a church it seems). We were doing quite well at the mega church we were going to, but then a very ugly side of the pastor came out during a sermon and we felt uncomfortable going there. I know everyone has an ugly side, but it just made us wonder how sincere is this pastor who was mad that something didn't go his way and then said "Don't come up to me and tell me it just wasn't God's will. Not everything that happens in this world is God's will" Meh.

The church today was very small - about 40 people or so. It was nice to sing the traditional hymns. We left a small church when we had our kids because we wanted them to grow up with kids in church...now they are in school they have lots of friends so maybe it isn't needed as much. I think we like the idea that we can use our giftedness for good in this church. We shall see...

I had a few girls from my book club over. I had bought each plate a Lindt Chocolate Bunny...only one girl took it home...! I however have not eaten one! I'm amazing! I did eat two small Hershey Miniatures but that's it. That's all! I'm rockin' it! Now if only my period would end so the scale would move a bit....

Happy Easter!! Thank you Jesus!

I did something for 43 days....

I have completed the official Blood Water Mission 40 days of just water. No soda, no coffee, no juice..I even cut out milk! In turn we were to donate what we would have spent on those things to the Blood Water Mission that helps in African communities to bring fresh water by digging and building ..things that can sustain help. They also help with AIDS orphans. As a family we did this (the kids had a Mommy Modified version) and we saved about $175.00 by only drinking water for 40 days. That sounds like a lot..but my husband drinks a coffee a day at $1.00 a day. The kids drink a juice a day for about $2 per week, and I was drinking almost 48 cans a week of Diet Coke. That was about 7 a day! Since Walmarts prices went up to almost $7.00 a case, that is $14 per week in Diet Coke.
Often I was buying water at the fitness center for $1. It sure adds up. We are glad to be able to donate this money to an organization like this.

The bigger thing is that I actually Did something for more than 40 days!! I can't remember the last time that I did anything for 40 days in a row! The possibilities of what I can do seem amazing to me! :)

Happy day!

I Passed Up the Chocolate!!!

Today is Good Friday. The girls were off school and they've been begging to go to Golden Corral for a month now but I'm a cheapskate so I wanted to wait until I could get the Lunch buffet and not the dinner. So the three of us went for lunch and I had pretty darn great self control. I started with a green salad with some grilled chicken and ham pieces. I got a small spoonful of fried rice, a couple of small pieces of asian chicken, a small spoonful of mashed potatoes, one small piece of bbq chicken and some pieces of melon. And I ate one roll. So compared to previous trips to Golden Corral I rocked my self control. As I watched others walk by with plates piled 2 or 3 layers high with fried chicken and stuffing and pork steak, etc...I felt at peace with myself and my choices.

And for dessert (and I wasn't about to NOT have dessert)..I passed by all the cobblers and german chocolate cake (yum) and black forest cake, and fudge, etc, etc...I instead took one small scoop of banana pudding, one small piece (like a 2 inch by 2inc) of banana bread and then got some vanilla soft serve ice cream. That, my friends, is a huge victory. To not choose chocolate!

One thing I did notice was that when I came home I was incredible munchy. I don't know if that relates to having a bit higher sugar intake than I have had in the past month or not. I ate 2 bananas but then I went to the gym and then had an apple for supper.

Couch to 5 K Week 1 Day 2 was a success. A bit harder. I think I need to do it in the morning early afternoon and not at 4:00. I was tired.