Losing It!

In just four short days, I have lost four glorious pounds!  Count them....1, 2, 3, 4!!  I decided to weigh myself today (and will again on Wednesday) just for the hell of it.  Glad I did.  It was that tiny little reinforcement that I needed to keep on keeping on. 

The app for my phone, Myfitnesspal, really makes it easier.  It gives you a calorie goal, it counts calories, and you can make informed decisions about what to eat.  Last night I had over 300 calories by the end of the night and I wanted a snack.  Enough for ice cream if I so chose or enough for a different snack.  I opted for a different snack of popcorn and hot cocoa (and I still had calories left over).  A week ago, I would have eaten BOTH snacks and then some. 

It also helps that half of my work place is now using that same app and we are all acting as cheerleaders for one another.  Having a buddy system does help especially when you see everybody else's success: it makes me want to succeed that much more. 

Keepin' On.

Barely, but I'll Take it.

Today was barely successful, but you know what?  It was!  Going into today, I had very little wiggle room for my calorie goal.  I had planned on working a double so had my food pretty much pre-planned. 

But plans changed.

There was food at work.  Plus, because I was planning on a double, there was no room for any significant exercise.  With this, I exceeded my calorie goal for today (which in my mind is failure....I need to reframe "success" and "failure" and not go solely by the calorie goal).

I did eat some of my homemade banana bread (I had 2 more pieces than originally planned), but that is it.  I resisted going into the bingo bin for more chocolate so that is a huge success.  I skipped out at change of shift to avoid the delicious food being brought in.  And I didn't double which means I got to go for a hike after work.  That is awesome because it gave me some more calories to eat. 

I am ending the night with 29 calories to spare.  It seemed like extra hard work today, but I did it.  Barely, but I did it. 

Greens at Last.

I had a salad today.  Something I haven't had in months.  It tasted nummy!  Day 3 proved to be another successful day.....granted it isn't over quite yet, and my danger zone hours are in full swing.  However, I still have over 300 calories to consume (if I so choose) so I'm thinking I'll be OK. 

Today was such a success that I even had room for an ice cream following dinner tonight (and yes, I STILL have 300 calories to go)!

Actually I thought today was going to be a bust right from the get-go.  I had a calorie heavy breakfast (and it wasn't even that heavy, it was just heavier than my past 2 days).  Immediately, I considered today a bust.  I proceeded to make 2 loaves of banana bread in which I always put some chocolate chips.  Because I considered today a bust, I thought about just taking some handfuls of those chocolate chips, but I resisted.  I have no clue what prevented me from indulging, but I didn't even eat just one.

Then I went to the grocery store where I came across some single serving sized ice cream deliciousness each having around 180-200 calories a piece.  Yes, I got some.  I got some in hopes of using the single serving sizes to help with my portion control, and if I record it on my phone app, then its all good.  I can have it, I just need to record it. 

So today I had my ice cream and ate it too!  I was within my calorie goal for today AND indulged in some ice cream.  It isn't easy, but it is do-able. 

Day 2.

Amazing how just one successful day is enough to get momentum going again.  Yesterday I accomplished (and surpassed) my goals which led to another successful day today. 

My day started out on the best foot possible.  I went skiing!  By 9:00 this morning, I was hitting the ski trails which felt so incredibly gooooood.  Since we haven't had any measurable snow this winter, skiing has not been possible, and boy what a disappointment.  Skiing is usually my biggest form of exercise in the winter (as roller blading is in the summer), and without it, I am a bit more sedentary.  Though I do hike the dogs nearly everyday, it doesn't get my heart pumping like skiing does.

After my ski, I hiked the dogs so I got in a good amount of exercise today.  On top of that, I recorded all my food on my phone and ate relatively healthy today!

My biggest obstacle was turning down the donuts, the homemade cookies and the peanut M&Ms at my mom's house (those peanut M&Ms have been known to sabotage whatever success I may encounter).  I really wanted one of those donuts too. 

So, day 2 was a great success.  On the docket for tomorrow is grocery shopping, more skiing, and more hiking.  I don't want to lose this momentum.

Day 1....Again.

I have accomplished my basic goals for today.  I weighed myself and was quite disappointed, though not entirely surprised, to learn I have gained about 10 pounds in the past 2 months (up to 146 now).  Though I am still down 12 pounds from when I first ventured on this journey last year, I am heading back down that dangerous path.  Had I kept going as I was, I would have been right back to where I was by next month. 

Damn.

I thought I could just eat whatever I wanted whenever I wanted it.  Guess not.  Today is my new day 1.  Yes, I have had several day 1's, but today is really my new day 1.  So far I have been successful:  I weighed myself, I went for a 45 minute hike, I logged all my food on my phone (and so far am under my calorie goal).    Granted, the night is not over yet, but really I have achieved my goal for today as it was simply to record my intake with no focus on calories consumed. 

Its so hard.  So fricken hard. 

Here I go again.........

S.O.S.

HELP!!  I never thought I would be here again.  Months ago, I VOWED never again, and yet, here I am.  Back to the beginning.  Not sure how 6 months of hard work can be erased in one short month.  Well, I guess I do know how that happens.  It happens when you eat out more often than not.  It happens when you eat ice cream and popcorn for dinner every night.  It happens when you stop moving your body.  That is exactly what happened.

Fruits and Veggies are absent.  I went from eating a salad nearly everyday to I can't remember the last time I had a salad.  Chocolate and sugar are evil temptresses that refuse to take no for an answer.  Not only can't I resist, but I seek them out.  All the usual hiding places at work and at home are frequented again and again.

I haven't weighed myself in weeks....maybe a month or more.  Pants are getting tighter, and once again I have a food baby in my belly.

So, where do I go from here?  I'm like a druggie who has relapsed and getting "clean" again will be just as difficult as it was the first time.  Honestly, I am not sure I am ready yet.  I just love food so much.  I look so forward to going out to eat or to that high calorie bowl of ice cream. 

My plan is going to be very basic and simple.  For this week, I am going to weigh myself on Wednesday.  I will once again revisit my blog weekly, if not daily.  I reaaaaaalllllly don't want to go back to a daily food diary, but I may just have to do that since that was the single most helpful tool for me.  However, I do have an app on my phone so instead of recording that on my blog, I will record it on my phone.  So, starting on Wednesday (WWD), I will weigh myself and record all my food intake. 

That is my plan.  Something's gotta give.