Lifestyle and Stress

I had decided that I had better results with marking off 10 week increments while working on my lifestyle change. My plan is to eat less and move more.

So this is my Week 5 Update and I've lost 1/2 lb. in 5 weeks.

Can anyone say yo-yo? That's what my scale has been in the past 5 weeks.

I've been doing well with the move more part. I've been on the treadmill at a 2% incline, 3 mph, for 5-6 days per week. I've also been lifting 7 lb. weights trying to firm up my flabby arms and have seen improvement there too.

So the issue during this 5 week period has been the eat less part (and making more healthy choices). I've always known that I can go a bit bonkers when I'm stressed, so my lack of weight loss results have not been a suprise to me, yet it is disappointing.

Although I could list the reasons for the stress, it's been nothing tragic or mind boggling so I just need to get a grip and re-focus my efforts.

My next Losing It/Weight Loss Wednesdays blog update will be on Week 10 (September 15). In the meantime, I'll be checking in at House of Hills (on Fridays) and will be commenting on Karen Ehman's Weight Loss Wednesdays.

How has your journey been lately?

Update: Since Karen has decided to discontinue Weight Loss Wednesdays posts on her blog in a couple weeks, I'll be hanging out with my Losing It buddies at Kathy's House of Hills. The journey continues...

Lifestyle Change Part 2

Today is my second 10 week completion of my lifestyle change (weight loss).

The update for weeks 7-10 is the scale that looked like a yo-yo during these weeks.

Week 7 - lost 0
Week 8 - gained 1 lb.
Week 9 - lost 1.5 lbs.
Week 10 - lost 1 lb.

So during this 10 week "adventure" my total weight loss is........ 6.5 lbs.

I began this adventure back on February 26 with a total loss of 10 lbs. in 10 weeks. I've been continuing my plan of eat less, move more. I've increased my water intake, am watching my portion size, and still walking on the treadmill at a 1.5% incline, 3 mph, 25 minutes for 5-6 days per week.

So doing the math (our son would be so proud) I have lost the total of  16.5 lbs. in 20 weeks. That's 9.22% in 20 weeks. Booyah!

I have marked off 10 more weeks which will take me to September 15. Wish me luck (and some will power!). I think my update posts will be on Week 5 and Week 10.

Thanks for your encouragement and support as the journey continues! I've linked this post to Kathy at House of Hills. Please stop by and see how the other ladies are doing and cheer them on.

A Good Week (Week 6)

This is Week 6 for me and it was a good week. I discovered that I like romaine lettuce with cherry tomatoes tossed with a bit of balsamic vinegar dressing and topped off with a scoop of tuna salad. It's filling, palatable, and good for me.

I'm being thoughtful about my food choices. I'm not depriving myself of anything, just living/eating in moderation. Prior planning is crucial and then I'm not obsessing about food all the time. If I eat a lot of carbs during the day, I go low(er) carb for dinner. I'm also on the treadmill 6 days a week, 25 minutes per day, 1.5% incline at 3.1 mph.

I did make a sad discovery this week though. I had a s'more...and hated it! I think if it would have been dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate it would have been tolerable....but it was disgustingly sweet. No more s'mores.

This week I lost 3 lbs. My total weight loss at the end of Week 6 is 5 lbs. I've been yo-yo-ing a lot during this 6 week period, yet am pleased with being 5 lbs. down. I journey with this lifestyle improvement in 10 week increments, so there are 4 weeks to go.

More celebrations are coming up this weekend with our son's birthday and our wedding anniversary.  If I plan ahead, I'll be fine.

I've linked up to Kathy at House of Hills. Please go and visit to see how the other ladies are doing. Join in if you wish. I've found it's easier to be with the group to encourage one another, get good ideas on what works, and to have an accountability group that can keep me motivated during my journey. 

How was your week?

The Bathroom Scale (WLW Week 5)

Oh scale, it's Wednesday

you frequently are my friend

this week, you are not.

OK, I went a bit crazy this week with something called Fiesta Sunshine Mix. The yummy-crunchy-salty goodness was just too much for me. The ingredients consisted of roasted peanuts, cashews, corn sticks, honey mustard sticks, and pumpkin seeds. Wait a minute. I ate sticks?!?

Maybe I focused too much on the Fiesta in the name.....I was partying eating like there was no tomorrow. And as a matter of fact, I would have posted a picture of the stuff, but there is none left.

Note to self: Do not buy Fiesta Sunshine Mix for a very, very long time. Until I rediscover a little thing called Self-Control.

This week I gained 1.5 lbs. (Picture me shaking my head.) But the good news is that I have forgiven myself and today is a new day and there is no Fiesta Sunshine Mix in the home!

I've linked this post to Kathy's House of Hills, so click over and see how the rest of the ladies are doing.

How did you do this week?

Weight Loss Wednesday (Week 4)

On Karen's blog today, she wrote about the unofficial beginning of summer. She had a lot of great questions and included a yummy looking side-dish recipe that I hope you'll check out.

I started thinking that a year ago we took an early "summer vacation" leaving in the middle of the night on Memorial Day, traveling by van to Southport, North Carolina. It was our first family vacation to North Carolina and we rented a condo that I had found online. The accomodations were wonderful, clean, spacious, and less expensive than where we usually rent in Wildwood Crest, NJ.

The biggest difference for this vacation was the travel time. It was a looooooooong drive. North Carolina vs. New Jersey, don't you know. And I fondly remember the Mexican food in North Carolina as being the best that I've had in years!

This week I lost 1 lb. Not too bad for having lunch out twice during the week. So my total loss in 4 weeks is 3.5 lbs.

I'm hoping that someone will give me some new ideas for a side-dish that I can take the family Pig Roast in July. Any suggestions?

Today I'm also linking this post with my buddy Kathy at House of Hills. The First 10 weeks of my journey to better health was with this group of wonderful encouragers.

The Stomach god (Week 3)

For Weight Loss Wednesdays today, Karen blogs about the following verse, “For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,” Philippians 3:18-20.

That's what I've felt like in the past. My god was my stomach.

I've had success with Slim-Fast and South Beach in the past, yet when I went "off" the programs....back came the weight. So now I'm sticking with my healthier lifestyle plan. Eat less, move more.

This week I lost 1.5 lbs. eating normally. Snacking more healthy (red grapes and strawberries this week). I walked on the treadmill 5 instead of 6 days and am still working my arms with 4 lb. weights.

And I focus on God's Word. Today's thought is based on Isaiah 43:1, which I've written as a statement for me to remember: God created and formed me. I won't be afraid because He has redeemed me, summoned me by name, and I am His.

God didn't create and form me to be overweight and unhealthy. He knows me and wants me to be responsible for my body.

And to end on a lighter note...I'm hopeful that "my photo" for citizenship into heaven will show my soul as skinnier or taller! :)

Happy Wednesday!

Celebration (& WLW Week 2)

This past Monday was my 49th birthday and because of my scheduled meeting on Monday night it turned into a three day celebration. It began with an early dinner at Outback on Saturday. (Since Sunday was Mother's Day we wanted to avoid huge crowds.) My birthday dinner was delicioussssss!

Sunday was Mother's Day and I received my red geraniums that I put in planters on both sides of my front door. It's the official date that annuals can be planted in our area without worry (supposedly) of a freeze in the future. We did have a cold front come through I think from our "friendly neighbors to the north" (Canada) and were warned of the possibility of a frost. Mother Nature...you used to be our friend! The geraniums survived. Or else they froze and still look good. No, I think they survived.

Monday was quiet. Once everyone arrived home, dinner was put on the table and I received my birthday gifts. The book, "The Blind Side." (Loved the movie and am looking forward to reading the book.) And Wonderful Husband gave me a digital camera. I opened it and said, "Yes! Now I can put pictures on my blog!" He looked at me and said, "That's why you wanted a camera?" and then he started laughing!

Hey it could happen!

Then I ran out the door to my meeting.

So get ready world. I'm thinking about snapping pictures occasionally and will be posting them on this blog.

And my Weight Loss Wednesdays Week 2 update is something that I've learned from celebrating myself for three days in a row. I gave myself license to celebrate ALL the days of the week and gained .5 lbs. Time for me to re-focus on healthy food choices and more water.

Starting. Right. Now.

Discipline - Week 1

Karen Ehman is encouraging us to memorize the verse listed below:

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:11

This is why I have decided to join Karen's "Weight Loss Wednesdays" group. To keep my focus on God who created me and is allowing me "to lease" my body for my duration on Earth.

I haven't treated my body responsibly in the past and am working on correcting that now.

Discipline is what I have re-introduced into my life for the past 11 weeks. I have been paying attention to the food I put in my mouth and re-introduced myself to exercise (treadmill, light weights, and sit-ups). During the 10 week "Losing It" weight loss challenge I lost 10 lbs. A happy beginning for me!

I have marked another 10 weeks into my calendar with today's date being my new end of Week 1. And I have lost 1.5 lbs. this week. I've exercised and been very disciplined with food this week since I have a birthday coming up (and Mother's Day too) so I know that a dinner to Outback is in my near future. And I love a hearty sampling of the Bloomin' Onion along with my steak dinner! Oh and some Carvel icecream cake too!

No guilt for me, just preparation for the upcoming celebration(s)! Prior planning works for me.

It's true that discipline doesn't seem pleasant at the time, yet it is producing a harvest of peace while I move forward in my lifestyle change journey.

Now it's time for me to do my assignment and memorize Hebrews 12:11.

How has your week been?