Week 4 Update

4.8 pounds lost! Yeah baby. Watch out out world - I'm about to see the other side of 200 pounds for the first time in years. Been working out in the evenings for the past few days since the whole waking up early thing has started to fade. But I'm still going. They took my blood to run lab work and all that good stuff. Had group today and we talked about glycemic index. There were only 4 of us there today which kinda sucks, but it was the same group that has been there every week I have been there. So at least us die hard folks are sticking together. And my sweat pants are falling off. YES! I got to invest in some workout pant with draw strings so I don't have to keep hiking them up on the treadmill. I actually tried a little jogging. Wasn't that bad but I only did 1 min spurts. The verdict is still out on whether I will cont to try and jog or just stick to my power walking. My ankle is voting for the walking so far.

Back on Track

Man I hate my period. But I sure do feel good again now that its over. I;m back to doing something everyday again. And I feel good. Plus the weight on the scale is going in the right direction again. I glad that it was just a temporary set back. I think I'll be able to handle it now that I know it coming. I can deal with progress for three weeks then staying put for one week. New bracelet here I come.

Week 3 Update

Sigh. This was the worst week so far. It started with the crappy day I had last Tues where my pressure bottomed out. Then my period started. So here comes the cramps and boating and headaches and cravings. UGH. I didn't work out like I supposed too because I was being lazy because I felt like crap. And I had to work this past weekend. Of course the icing on the cake was this whole week we had a heat wave. So all of my gripping and excuses come down to no change in the scale at the official weigh in. I guess if anything I should be happy I didn't put on a few pounds - but I didn't lose any either. Sigh. Well, another week begins. I started by going to the gym this morning. I have to get myself back on track so I can make up for last week at the next weigh in.

Week 2 Update

Well yesterday was not a good day. Half way thru I almost passed out. My blood pressure dropped all of a sudden, which is not a cool feeling. I ended up calling in sick for the rest of the day. I drove home very carefully (I was still feeling a little lightheaded) and took a nap. The group meeting was good. We talked about motivation. And other group members actually talked tonight. Found out a few other people are early in the process like me, which was definitely motivating in and of itself. I had my labs done this week and got my monthly check up early since I was a little freaked out about what happened earlier that day at work. They think I need to have my blood pressure meds adjusted. It would be great if I could get off that stuff all together. And last but not least I had had my weight in. Official verdict - 209.4 for a loss of 4.6 pounds last week. That made a crappy day totally worthwhile.

Creating a habit

Well it has been said that it takes 21 days to make something a habit. So 7 down, 14 to go. I have done something active for the past 7 days. I have been to the gym several times, used my exercise bike, or taken a walk outside. But I did something everyday. I am very proud of myself because some of those days I didn't want to do anything. But then I would have to go to an ATM or mailbox - so I would walk instead of drive. 10 min here and there on the bike. But I did an extra 30 min worth of something active every day. I'm still checking the scale every morning, although I know I prob shouldn't. But it has been motivating me in the morning to do something. I like that every morning I have been getting a lower number. And I know that 10 min on the bike or taking the long way walking to the mailbox is what is making the difference. They tell you most people lose 3-5 pounds a week on this diet. Well I want the 5 pounds a week. I have the drive, I have the energy, I can do it!

Week One Success

Well I went to my first meeting and official weigh in tonight. I started at 219.2 and I was 213.6 per their scale, for a grand total of 5.6 lb lost. I have also been checking my scale at home but I do that totally naked first thing the morning so of course I get a lower value. But the main thing is I LOST WEIGHT!. So our meeting tonight was about goal setting. They need to be reasonable and measurable and attainable for them to work. They also suggested we have a non-food reward for meeting the goal. So I went to the mall across the street before my meeting because I had time to burn and I found a gorgeous diamond two tone bracelet and diamond heart pendant from Gordan's. I have decided that they will be my non food rewards for loosing weight. My first goal is to get under 200 pounds by my husbands birthday, which is at the end of August. When I get under 200 pounds I get to have the bracelet. My second goal is to get under 175 pounds by my birthday at the end of October. When I do that I get the heart pedant. I gave my jewelry purchases to my husband to hide until I meet my goals and can have them back. I think my goals are reasonable. I have about 6-7 weeks to meet the first goal and then another 8 weeks after that to meet the second goal. So as long as I'm doing what I am supposed to, and hopefully keep losing like 5 pounds a week I will be fine. But it still gives me some fudge room. Pretty things on a new pretty me - Here I come!

Waking up early is okay

So this whole week I have been beating the alarm clock. Go figure. I NEVER beat the alarm clock. I am the queen of the snooze button. My clock is set 11 min fast on purpose. And yet I have been beating the alarm clock. Have the nerve to be waking up around 6 am ON MY OWN. My husband does that all the time and I girl could get used to this. Especially since I am saving about 20 min in the morning since I'm not cooking breakfast. And I told me mom about the program I have started. Initially she was worried about me being on such a reduced calorie intake but she was okay with it once she saw how often I was being monitored. And she has pledged to stop asking me to dinner until I let her know its okay. I made it thru the forth sans BBQ safely. Luckily hunger has not been a major issue. Especially since I have my trustly suger free jello to satisfy my dessert cravings. My mom was also concerned about me getting bored with the food selections. I had to remind her that I am the same person who had mac and cheese with broccoli for dinner almost every day for a year at my great gransmothers house, and that I was still eating the same meal over and over for months on end for breakfast. It was just easier that way. The only time I would really mix it up was when we went out to eat. Which on hindsight prob didnt help my previous weight loss efforts. So as far as the meal replacements go - soup is out becuase its too salty, pudding is in because it gives me the illusion of having something solid, mocha is out, chocolate is in, as is vanilla and hot chocolate. Next meeting is on tuesday night. I decided to use the Virtual model to show my progress instead of posting up my actual pics (still taking the pics, just not sharing online). I'll keep the begining one up so I can remember where I started and I think I shall post a second with whatever my current weight is. So once I have my weigh in after week one on the program I can see how far I have come. BTW - staying off the scale until tues is killing me.

foggy

Well the long day is over and I feel foggy. Not particularly hungry though. I'm proud of myself for resisting temtation at work. My coworkers had a HUGE bag of gummi bears, which are my fav, and I didnt have any. I can do this. I WILL do this.

Extra Time Rocks!

So I had my first meeting last night. Met with a nutritionist which was short and sweet becuase all I can eat is the meal replacement drinks. Although she did give me lots of options for making it taste different and adding variety which was good. And I am allowed to have cool whip free on my fiber jello which makes it seem so much more like having a real dessert. Which I def think will help since I LOVE dessert. Its a nice compromise. And I had my first check up by the doc and picked up my food. Today is my first full day on just the meal replacement. First things first I didnt realze how much time making breaskfast took up in the morning. I have the time to sit and post becuase I'm not downstairs cooking food. I like it. Means I get to sleep in if I want and still not be late for work. Or even better, try to get some exercise in the morning without having to wake up too much earlier than I already do. My husband I and I cleared out all the bad food in the house that only I would eat and hid the stuff that he still wanted for himself. I have a shelf in the pantry just for my meal replacement stuff. I also made my pudding and jello for the week so I have it ready to go. Packed my meals up for the day since today is my extra long day at work. So far so good.