Strong Start Day

Tuesday night I weighed in and had gained a pound. I think I'm hitting that lose 2.5, gain 1, lose 2, gain 1 phase. Some people call it a plateau.  In the past I probably would have thrown up my hands and called it quits and started eating stuffed crust pizza again, but this time I'm willing to figure things out and move forward.

We always have assignments for the week following our class meeting. Some times I do them and sometimes I don't. There is a physical activity assignment and a meal assignment. I usually do the latter. At the end of class we plan the next day's meals and physical activity in what we call our "strong start day." This is designed to help us start the week poised for success and if you really stick to the plan it does work--as I found out.

Wednesday was my strong start day. I planned 30 minutes of bicycling before I sat down to have coffee and read the paper. I've planned this before, but did not follow through--oh do I love that first cup of java in the morning. But the problem is once II have coffee and get involved with the news I don't have time to work out. Wednesday morning I did it. Up at 6:15 a.m. and by 7:15 a.m. I was sitting down to a cup of coffee and the newspaper with my 30 minutes of physical activity behind me. Now I didn't have to think about it anymore.

Having taken care of the first thing on my strong start day list following the rest of the day's plan was so much easier.

To top off the day I had made an appointment with a trainer at the YMCA and off to the gym I went. It was a good 60 minute workout and I left the gym a quivering muscle mass.

This morning, Thursday, I got in my 30 minute bike ride, and I'm on plan or "in the box" as we like to say at HMR.

Saying Good Bye to some Favorite Clothes--not the Christmas Dog Jammies---Please!

Official weigh in last night: minus 2.5 pounds. So from last Thursday until Tuesday I got rid of 2.5 pounds by getting in those 10 minute bike rides and mixing up my menus. Geez that was easy!

The pile of "can't wear you" anymore continues to grow in my closet. Most of it is big track suits in navy, black and dark grey -- can you say "I want to be invisible." There are blouses and jeans too, but mostly stuff I was hiding in. Today though I have to get rid of something I really like. I promised my husband that by February I would get rid of my favorite red flannel pajamas with the Christmas dogs on them. Last night (Feb 2) I really thought that he had forgotten the promise so when I climbed in bed I was surprised that he reminded me that they were forbidden.

 I have to agree that no self-respecting 49 year old woman would be caught dead in these frumpy XLs if she were now an M. But there is some comfort in their familiarity. If anyone knows where I can get some new PJs with dogs (preferably Jack Russells) on them in an M let me know. They don't need to be red.

Rebuilding Momentum

I've been at this since October and my momentum was waning, especially in the physical activity department and it was starting to show. (Last week I lost a half pound.) So I got out all my class notes, handouts and recipe books and did a big review Friday night sitting in front of the fireplace. I reminded myself of why I was doing this and how hard I've worked since last fall. I picked out a few new recipes and made up a grocery list and planned out the weekend. My son put my stationary bike in place where I would have easy access to it for 10 minute bouts of exercise. (Did you know that people who do three, ten minute bouts of exercise five days a week lose more weight than people who do 40 concentrated minutes of exercise five days a week?)

Well it worked. By Sunday I had lost two pounds. I haven't weighed this little in four or five years. It was enough for me to go shopping for a few new things Sunday, hitting some great sales at Talbots and Nordstrom. It was great taking several sizes into the dressing room and finding that the smaller ones fit.

Tonight is another weigh in---I'll keep you posted for the official loss.