Weight: 153.0
All is well, I just had a late night and had trouble getting up this morning, therefore I've been running late all morning. No time to blog. Will catch up tomorrow!!
Have a great week!
Tuesday, July 5, 2016
Monday, July 4, 2016
7/4/16: Happy July 4th - And Another Opportunity to Fall Off Course
Weight: 153.0
I am only one pound away from what I weighed on Thursday morning, June 23rd, before we left for San Diego. It's been 11 days of progress, lost to a binge. That is a sobering fact. I will tell you this right now, it wasn't worth it. The food I ate did not taste that good. It brought a moment's worth of solace, I suppose, but that was small reward compared to the effort it is taking to lose the weight I gained and the emotional impact that comes from losing so much ground during my 12 Week Challenge. This morning, I am relieved to only be a pound away from 152.0, which is what I weighed on that Thursday morning, before boarding a plane to San Diego. Perhaps I will be back at 152.0 tomorrow morning. It's possible.
It will not be possible to be back at 152.0 tomorrow if I go off program this afternoon. Therefore, I am stating, emphatically and without feeling sorry for myself, that I will not go off program today, no matter what anyone else says, does, eats or drinks. It's just not worth it!
It will be one of those challenging situations. We will be going to a friend's for dinner, drinks, and fireworks. We will be sitting around chit-chatting. This is the most difficult type of event for me to get through without eating and drinking off program. There is something about sitting around chit-chatting that is incredibly conducive to having a drink in one hand and a snack in the other. It stresses me out just thinking about getting through the evening without drinking a glass of wine or munching on some sort of snack food. It's one of those days that if I do manage to get through the entire day without going off program, I expect to be two pounds lighter the next morning. I think the weight loss in the morning should be commensurate with the amount of effort it took to stay on program the day before. It never does work that way, though. But, if I stay on program this evening, I will be rewarded on the scale tomorrow by not having a weight gain. That will be enough to satisfy me. The knowledge that I stayed on program and knowing that in a situation where I could have gained a few pounds, I kept my weight stable, will be enough for me to be pleased with myself tomorrow morning. I will accomplish this goal, today.
I don't want you to read this and my previous posts for the last several days and think that I am beating myself up, nonstop, because of my San Diego binge. I am not doing that. In fact, yesterday, Jack and I had a wonderful shopping day and I bought myself several cute new tops and dresses, that I never could have worn prior to losing as much weight as I have lost. I had a lot of fun trying on cute clothes and felt proud of my efforts. I know I have made tremendous progress and I know I am considerably healthier than I was 4 years ago or even 2 months ago. I know that 24 hours of crap food doesn't throw years of hard work out the window, and I don't beat myself up as if it does. So please don't get the impression that because I talk about the ramifications of my binge in this blog that that is all I think about. It happens to be what I think about the moment I get on the scale and still see an extra pound there. Getting on the scale reminds me of how what I eat really does make a difference. This blog happens to be about my weight loss/get healthy initiative. Therefore, the binge will be on my mind and in my blog until the weight I gained from the binge is gone and I am back on new ground, according to my weight loss chart.
Also, blogging about the binge and the impact it has had on my weight and on me emotionally helps me focus on my goals and weigh the temporary pleasure food brings me against the long-term pleasure of staying on program. The more I write about it the more it cements in my memory the fact that the moment's solace that food brings me is inconsequential compared to the 12 or 13 days it will take to lose the weight that I gain because of the crap food. I blog for a reason. It is an excellent motivational tool for me. I appreciate your patience as I get back on track and work to get the momentum going in the correct direction, again.
Before heading over to Larry and Luz's, I need to prepare some food for this evening, go for a run, cook some vegetables for the up-coming week, and I am not sure what else. Perhaps Jack and I will get our camping inventory done. It is less than a month before we take off for our big camping trip with the grandkids in Colorado. We are looking forward to it!!
I'll be blogging tomorrow morning. I hope you will check in to make sure that I stuck to program through the July 4th festivities. I am counting on that!!
Have a great day! Stay safe and enjoy the holiday!
Sunday, July 3, 2016
7/3/2016: Advice from Some Old People
Saw the following post on Facebook. I couldn't argue with anything said below, so I decided to share it. Enjoy:
1. The most important person in your life is the person who
agreed to share their life with you. Treat them as such.
2. You might live a long life, or you might live a short one
— who knows. But either way, trust me when I say that you’re going to wish you
took better care of yourself in your youth.
3. Stuff is just stuff. Don’t hold onto material objects,
hold onto time and experiences instead.
4. Jealousy destroys relationships. Trust your significant
other, because who else are you supposed to trust?
5. People always say, ’’Make sure you get a job doing what
you love!’’ But that isn’t the best advice. The right job is the job you love
some days, can tolerate most days, and still pays the bills. Almost nobody has
a job they love every day.
6. If you’re getting overwhelmed by life, just return to the
immediate present moment and savour all that is beautiful and comforting. Take
a deep breath, relax.
7. Years go by in the blink of an eye. Don’t marry young.
Live your life. Go places. Do things. If you have the means or not. Pack a bag
and go wherever you can afford to go. While you have no dependents, don’t buy
stuff. Any stuff. See the world. Look through travel magazines and pick a spot.
GO!
8. Don’t take life so seriously. Even if things seem dark
and hopeless, try to laugh at how ridiculous life is.
9. A true friend will come running if you call them at 2am.
Everyone else is just an acquaintance.
10. Children grow up way too fast. Make the most of the time
you have with them.
11. Nobody ever dies wishing they had worked more. Work
hard, but don’t prioritize work over family, friends, or even yourself.
12. Eat and exercise like you’re a diabetic heart patient
with a stroke — so you never actually become one.
13. Maybe this one isn’t as profound as the others, but I
think it’s important… Floss regularly, dental problems are awful.
14. Don’t take anyone else’s advice as gospel. You can ask
for advice from someone you respect, then take your situation into
consideration and make your own decision. Essentially, take your own advice is
my advice…
15. The joints you damage today will get their revenge
later. Even if you think they’ve recovered completely. TRUST ME!
16. We have one time on this earth. Don’t wake up and
realize that you are 60 years old and haven’t done the things you dreamed
about.
17. Appreciate the small things and to be present in the
moment. What do I mean? Well, it seems today like younger people are all about
immediate gratification. Instead, why not appreciate every small moment? We
don’t get to stay on this crazy/wonderful planet forever and the greatest
pleasure can be found in the most mundane of activities. Instead of sending a
text, pick up the phone and call someone. Call your mother, have a conversation
about nothing in particular. Those are the moments to hold onto.
18. Pay your bills and stay the hell out of debt. If I could
have paid myself all the money I’ve paid out in interest over the years, I’d be
retired already.
19. If you have a dream of being or doing something that
seems impossible, try for it anyway. It will only become more impossible as you
age and become responsible for other people.
20. When you meet someone for the first time, stop and
realize that you really know nothing about them. You see race, gender, age,
clothes. Forget it all. You know nothing. Those biased assumptions that pop
into your head because of the way your brain likes categories, are limiting
your life, and other people’s lives.
7/3/2016 - 12 Week Challenge - Operation Restart: 8 Week Results
The results for Week 8 are in!! Yes, I had a bit of a backslide last week, but this is a 12 Week Challenge, not an 8 Week Challenge, and I am still in it to win it!!! So here are the results:
First, the photos:
Yes! What a difference 9 pounds and 8 weeks of exercise makes! It is hard to believe, isn't it, that 2 months can make this much difference? At my age. And only exercising about an hour a day, 5 to six days a week. And no crazy crash diets. No supplements. No protein shakes. Nothing fancy. Just good food, 5 to 6 hours of exercise a week, and plenty of sleep. Yes, so far, I am very pleased with the visible results.
Now, the stats:
Circumference at Top of Hip Bone
Start: 39 ¼”
First, the photos:
Now, the stats:
Start Date: 4/16/2016
Re-Start Date: 5/7/2016
Re-Start Date: 5/7/2016
Today's Date (End of Week 8): 7/2/2016
End Date: 7/30/2016
End Date: 7/30/2016
WEIGHT GOAL
Start: 163.4 lbs
Start: 163.4 lbs
Today: 154.2 lbs (I am right on my goal line, in spite of my San Diego binge.)
Change: - 9.2 lbs
Change: - 9.2 lbs
Goal: 150 lbs
FITNESS GOALS
Distance I Can Jog Before I Have to Slow to Walk
Start: 1.25 Miles
Start: 1.25 Miles
Today: 2.5 Miles
Change: + 1.25 Miles
Goal: 3.0 Miles
Change: + 1.25 Miles
Goal: 3.0 Miles
# of Push-ups to Fail
Start: 6
Start: 6
Today: 23
Change: + 17 (Wow! So much stronger!)
Goal: 20
Change: + 17 (Wow! So much stronger!)
Goal: 20
Start:: 0 Sec
Today: 0 Sec (Did not test - broken finger)
Change: 0 Sec
Goal: 5 Seconds
Change: 0 Sec
Goal: 5 Seconds
MEASUREMENT GOALS
Right Bicep
Start: 13 ½”
Start: 13 ½”
Today: 13 ¼"
Change: - ¼"
Goal: 12”
Change: - ¼"
Goal: 12”
Start: 34 ½”
Today: 34"
Change: - ½"
Goal: 32 ½” (This goal was probably unrealistic. Don't know what we were thinking.)
Change: - ½"
Goal: 32 ½” (This goal was probably unrealistic. Don't know what we were thinking.)
Circumference at Belly Button
Start: 34 ¼”
Start: 34 ¼”
Today: 31 ¼"
Change: - 3"
Goal: 32 ¼"
Goal: 32 ¼"
Circumference at Top of Hip Bone
Today: 36"
Change: - 3 ¼"
Goal: 36 ¼”
Change: - 3 ¼"
Goal: 36 ¼”
Right Thigh 9 Inches Above Knee
Start: 21 ½”
Start: 21 ½”
Today: 20 ¼"
Change: - 1"
Goal: 23” (I thought my thigh would get bigger with the workouts, because of results from a previous challenge I did. Now I think the measurements from the previous challenge were incorrect and this makes more sense. I am glad my thighs are thinning out a bit.)
Change: - 1"
Goal: 23” (I thought my thigh would get bigger with the workouts, because of results from a previous challenge I did. Now I think the measurements from the previous challenge were incorrect and this makes more sense. I am glad my thighs are thinning out a bit.)
Original Plan:
During my 12 Week Challenge I will:
During my 12 Week Challenge I will:
- Exercise 6 days a week - I have averaged about 5 days a week
- Eat On Program (including abstaining from all sugar and alcohol) - I have stuck to program most of the time, with the exception of the binge in San Diego. That binge cost me a 5.4 pound weight gain. I am currently recovering from that.
- Weigh myself and record my weight, daily - Easy Peasy. I do this all the time anyway.
- Update my blog posts regularly - Yes! I've been good about this. Thanks for reading! The blog really helps!
- Measure my progress towards the goals listed above every 4 weeks. - Yes! Second goal update, today!!
7/3/2016: More Good News
Weight: 153.2
OK, I'm getting there. I am almost back down to the weight I was before my crazy food binge in San Diego, particularly in the San Diego airport as we sat around for half a day waiting for our delayed flight. But that is not the good news I am referring to. The good news I am referring to is that I am not having sugar cravings. My biggest fear with regard to my program and lifetime goal of weighing 150 pounds and staying on a healthy eating program for the rest of my life is sugar addiction. I believe sugar is an addictive substance and it is my fear that if I slip and eat sugar I will start having cravings that I will have to fight to control until I am solidly back on program. I am happy to report that I have not had sugar cravings or junk food cravings of any sort this week. In fact, I have had the exact opposite response to my 24 hour binge (the binge really was isolated to the last night we were there and the day we spent in the airport). I felt so crappy on Tuesday that I was urgently motivated to get back on program. We got home much later than anticipated on Monday evening, so we stopped at the store and bought enough essentials to get us through breakfast the next day. I had a few leftover items in the fridge that I had cooked late in the week that would get us through Tuesday lunch and dinner. On Tuesday I made a shopping list for Jack and he brought groceries home for me to cook that evening. I got our cooking done on Tuesday night and by Wednesday morning our refrigerator was well stocked with our normal on-program foods. The overwhelming emotion I felt in that moment, when I knew we were stocked for the week, was relief. I was so glad to know that my breakfasts, lunches, and dinners for the rest of the week were prepped, cooked, and ready to go. I didn't feel deprived or sad that I couldn't keep eating crap, I felt glad that we had a solid program to go back to and that we both did our part to get good food back in the refrigerator. It was in that moment that I realized how regimented I really am with my program. And you know what? I am totally OK with that. My very well planned food program takes the decision making out of what I am going to eat from meal to meal and day to day. I make all my food decisions for the week on Saturday. Jack goes to the grocery store and brings home the food. I cook all the food on Sunday. Done. No more decisions, no worries, no guess work. No struggles, no cravings, no more work. I just pack up my little plastic containers, take them to work, and warm my food up at meal times. It really is easy. Jack has delicious, healthy meals to eat when he gets home from work. This really does work for both of us.
It works so well that Jack came home from the doctor's office with a perfectly clean bill of health. Blood work, blood pressure, etc., it's all good. We got the letter back from the doc on Friday, from Jack's follow-up appointment, "I am happy to report that these are excellent results!" Excellent results! Isn't that great? At 60 and 54 years old, we are both in excellent health, we don't take any maintenance drugs, and we feel as good, if not better, than we have ever felt. Jack's skin is clear, my shoulders don't ache, and we are happy and content. Good food, regular exercise, plenty of sleep and lots of love is a wonderful prescription for good health. I am glad that I have found a program that works for me, but it is fulfilling to know that I have helped Jack live a healthier lifestyle, too. It took me a long time to find a man that I am actually happier living with than without; I need him to stick around for a while. I am pleased that he is as interested in being healthy as I am. It makes this so much easier and so much more fun.
Yesterday, as we were watching the ballgame and I was looking at Facebook a little bit I did comment on how it would be nice to be able to eat whatever I want and not get fat. It is amazing the number of posts people put up about food, eating out, drinking, going to bars, etc... Jack pointed out that even if I could eat whatever I wanted without gaining weight, it wouldn't mean that I was healthy. The food we eat is good for us. It's not just about maintaining my weight, it's about keeping blood sugar, hormones, gut microbes, and essential cholesterals, at a healthy level. In a way, my weight is just a harbinger of the real news. When I'm at a healthy weight, it is because I am living a healthy lifestyle which keeps all systems working in good condition. When I binge and eat crap food, my weight shoots up indicating systemic inflammation and a body in crisis. In that respect, I guess I am lucky. My desire to maintain a healthy body weight is what has motivated my lifetime search for a program that works for me. If I was never overweight, I don't know if I would have ever gone down this path in search of a perfect program for myself and my husband. But I have been searching, for decades in fact, and finally, after all these years, I have found the program that works. Yes, I guess, in a way, I am lucky. My body has a built-in early detection system. "Gained three pounds over night, you consumed poison, stop that immediately, go back on program right now!" I can see how that is a good thing. I guess I should quit my bitching and be grateful for a body that helps me see right from wrong.
So yes, today is a day filled with good news. It doesn't hurt that it is the second day of a three day weekend. It's nice to have the time to pause and reflect at what is right with the world, rather than just barely having enough time to plow through the day and get everything done that needs to be done. No complaints. Not today.
See you later!
OK, I'm getting there. I am almost back down to the weight I was before my crazy food binge in San Diego, particularly in the San Diego airport as we sat around for half a day waiting for our delayed flight. But that is not the good news I am referring to. The good news I am referring to is that I am not having sugar cravings. My biggest fear with regard to my program and lifetime goal of weighing 150 pounds and staying on a healthy eating program for the rest of my life is sugar addiction. I believe sugar is an addictive substance and it is my fear that if I slip and eat sugar I will start having cravings that I will have to fight to control until I am solidly back on program. I am happy to report that I have not had sugar cravings or junk food cravings of any sort this week. In fact, I have had the exact opposite response to my 24 hour binge (the binge really was isolated to the last night we were there and the day we spent in the airport). I felt so crappy on Tuesday that I was urgently motivated to get back on program. We got home much later than anticipated on Monday evening, so we stopped at the store and bought enough essentials to get us through breakfast the next day. I had a few leftover items in the fridge that I had cooked late in the week that would get us through Tuesday lunch and dinner. On Tuesday I made a shopping list for Jack and he brought groceries home for me to cook that evening. I got our cooking done on Tuesday night and by Wednesday morning our refrigerator was well stocked with our normal on-program foods. The overwhelming emotion I felt in that moment, when I knew we were stocked for the week, was relief. I was so glad to know that my breakfasts, lunches, and dinners for the rest of the week were prepped, cooked, and ready to go. I didn't feel deprived or sad that I couldn't keep eating crap, I felt glad that we had a solid program to go back to and that we both did our part to get good food back in the refrigerator. It was in that moment that I realized how regimented I really am with my program. And you know what? I am totally OK with that. My very well planned food program takes the decision making out of what I am going to eat from meal to meal and day to day. I make all my food decisions for the week on Saturday. Jack goes to the grocery store and brings home the food. I cook all the food on Sunday. Done. No more decisions, no worries, no guess work. No struggles, no cravings, no more work. I just pack up my little plastic containers, take them to work, and warm my food up at meal times. It really is easy. Jack has delicious, healthy meals to eat when he gets home from work. This really does work for both of us.
It works so well that Jack came home from the doctor's office with a perfectly clean bill of health. Blood work, blood pressure, etc., it's all good. We got the letter back from the doc on Friday, from Jack's follow-up appointment, "I am happy to report that these are excellent results!" Excellent results! Isn't that great? At 60 and 54 years old, we are both in excellent health, we don't take any maintenance drugs, and we feel as good, if not better, than we have ever felt. Jack's skin is clear, my shoulders don't ache, and we are happy and content. Good food, regular exercise, plenty of sleep and lots of love is a wonderful prescription for good health. I am glad that I have found a program that works for me, but it is fulfilling to know that I have helped Jack live a healthier lifestyle, too. It took me a long time to find a man that I am actually happier living with than without; I need him to stick around for a while. I am pleased that he is as interested in being healthy as I am. It makes this so much easier and so much more fun.
Yesterday, as we were watching the ballgame and I was looking at Facebook a little bit I did comment on how it would be nice to be able to eat whatever I want and not get fat. It is amazing the number of posts people put up about food, eating out, drinking, going to bars, etc... Jack pointed out that even if I could eat whatever I wanted without gaining weight, it wouldn't mean that I was healthy. The food we eat is good for us. It's not just about maintaining my weight, it's about keeping blood sugar, hormones, gut microbes, and essential cholesterals, at a healthy level. In a way, my weight is just a harbinger of the real news. When I'm at a healthy weight, it is because I am living a healthy lifestyle which keeps all systems working in good condition. When I binge and eat crap food, my weight shoots up indicating systemic inflammation and a body in crisis. In that respect, I guess I am lucky. My desire to maintain a healthy body weight is what has motivated my lifetime search for a program that works for me. If I was never overweight, I don't know if I would have ever gone down this path in search of a perfect program for myself and my husband. But I have been searching, for decades in fact, and finally, after all these years, I have found the program that works. Yes, I guess, in a way, I am lucky. My body has a built-in early detection system. "Gained three pounds over night, you consumed poison, stop that immediately, go back on program right now!" I can see how that is a good thing. I guess I should quit my bitching and be grateful for a body that helps me see right from wrong.
So yes, today is a day filled with good news. It doesn't hurt that it is the second day of a three day weekend. It's nice to have the time to pause and reflect at what is right with the world, rather than just barely having enough time to plow through the day and get everything done that needs to be done. No complaints. Not today.
See you later!
Saturday, July 2, 2016
7/2/2016: Bad News and Good News
Weight: 154.2
That's the bad news and the good news.
The bad news is that after four days of being back on program I still weigh 2.2 pounds more than I did the morning we left for San Diego. That just plain sad. It's amazing how a few days of eating crap can have such an immediate and significant impact on my weight. It is a vivid reminder of the fact that we are what we eat.
The good news is that I marked my chart this morning and I am exactly on my Operation Restart Goal Line. In spite of the set back, I am on track to be at my goal weight of 150 pounds by the end of my 12 Week Challenge. This is why charts are good. While it was great fun to be significantly below my goal line for a few weeks and it is discouraging to see the weight gain, it was a huge relief to see that I am still on track for my original goal and that I really have made a lot of progress since I started my 12 Week Challenge. I guess you can say that life happens, but having well established goals and a plan on how to reach them really does help.
Today is the end of week 8 and my personal trainer will be here in a couple of hours. I'll take pictures before she gets here and we'll take measurements while she is here. I'll post week 8 results and pictures this afternoon or tomorrow morning.
Have a great 4th of July weekend, everyone!!
That's the bad news and the good news.
The bad news is that after four days of being back on program I still weigh 2.2 pounds more than I did the morning we left for San Diego. That just plain sad. It's amazing how a few days of eating crap can have such an immediate and significant impact on my weight. It is a vivid reminder of the fact that we are what we eat.
The good news is that I marked my chart this morning and I am exactly on my Operation Restart Goal Line. In spite of the set back, I am on track to be at my goal weight of 150 pounds by the end of my 12 Week Challenge. This is why charts are good. While it was great fun to be significantly below my goal line for a few weeks and it is discouraging to see the weight gain, it was a huge relief to see that I am still on track for my original goal and that I really have made a lot of progress since I started my 12 Week Challenge. I guess you can say that life happens, but having well established goals and a plan on how to reach them really does help.
Today is the end of week 8 and my personal trainer will be here in a couple of hours. I'll take pictures before she gets here and we'll take measurements while she is here. I'll post week 8 results and pictures this afternoon or tomorrow morning.
Have a great 4th of July weekend, everyone!!
Friday, July 1, 2016
7/1/2016: The First Day of the Second Half of the Year
Weight: 154.4
When you're an accountant, it's impossible not to think in quarters and today is the first day of the third quarter. Here's hoping it's a good one for all of us!
My goals for the quarter?
When you're an accountant, it's impossible not to think in quarters and today is the first day of the third quarter. Here's hoping it's a good one for all of us!
My goals for the quarter?
- Get to 150 pounds and stay there. Make 150 pounds my new set weight. Getting to 150 will be relatively easy. Staying close to 150 won't be that hard, but will require constant vigilance. Staying within a pound or two of 150 will be very difficult and will require a great deal of discipline. It will be interesting to see what it takes to become a 150 pound person for life. I'm not fooling myself, it ain't going to be easy.
- Exercise hard five to six days a week. Three days of weight lifting and three days of running or bike riding or some other form of cardio exercise.
- Enjoy life
- Have a blast with the grand kids in Colorado this summer. Jackie and I are taking five of Andrew's and Rebecca's six kids camping for about a week. That should be great fun!
- Save some money. Jack and I are starting to think about life after "full-employment." Can you believe we are getting to that stage of our lives, where we can actually imagine a day when we are not clocking in at someone else's business? It's phenomenal to even think about it, much less do it. We've been saving money in our retirement plans for a while, but we decided at the beginning of the year to try to save more cash. It seems like something is always coming up, though. It's not bad stuff, it's all good stuff (usually kid or grand kid related), but it makes it hard to stash cash away. We like making memories. :) I'll try to do both in the 3rd quarter. Make great memories and save a little more money.
I guess that's good enough for now. It's just a quarter after all, not the rest of my life.
I dropped a couple of the pounds that I gained while we were in San Diego. Of the 5.4 pounds I gained I have lost 3, only 2.4 to go until I am back where I started a week ago. Phooey. I wish I didn't do that, but crap happens. Crap food, that is. Funny how I eat when I get stressed. Funny that what I find stressful others would find easy and what I find easy others would find stressful. I guess we are all wired differently.
We have a three day weekend coming up!! We plan on cleaning house tomorrow, it's kind of a mess. I don't know what else we will do for the rest of the weekend, but I am looking forward to the holiday. Maybe it will give me time to do lots of blogging, so I can clear my head a little bit. That would be good.
Until then...
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