To Blog or Not to Blog

Writing a blog about losing weight isn't always exciting.

Losing a pound of weight each week is a slow process- kind of like watching grass grow.

The fact is that the daily events of dieting are boring. Most of us want to flip to the back of the book and find out what happens. I wish I could fast forward to a few months from now and see the thinner version of me.

My daily routine has become very...routine. I am simply trying to stay on track and not veer off the road to Thinville. I eat a sensible breakfast each day, limit my calories, and try to get in exercise whenever possible. I search out healthy, low calorie meal choices and foods constantly. For now, my progress is steady. I know I should increase my efforts, but some days are more challenging than others. I am happy to be staying on course.

Clothes fit me loosely these days, but I refuse to buy smaller pants just yet. I am not satisfied to stay at my current weight. This is just a rest stop along the way.

I have to focus on looking ahead to the end of the journey. Buying clothes now would mean accepting my current weight and that is not an option. Each day must mean progress- no looking back and no staying put!

Next goal: Lose weight worth buying new clothes for!

Buckle Up

I have to admit that for the last few weeks I have been slowing down in the right lane while driving to Thinville. My efforts have been steady, but I haven't moved into the passing lane or made any progress losing pounds.

I have not been as disciplined about counting my calories lately. As a result, I am maintaining my current weight - instead of losing pounds.

It is too easy to drive along and not pay attention to my speedometer. Today I realized that during the past 4 months, my average weight loss has only been about one pound per week. That is not terrible, but I had hoped to be about 5-10 pounds lighter at this mile marker.

My beach vacation is only 4 weeks away, and I still can't imagine trying on any bathing suits yet.

The logical next step for me is to buckle up and head into the hammer lane.

I need to speed things up and make some definite efforts to eat less calories and burn additional ones. Yes, that means being more disciplined about eating AND exercising.

However, I am learning that small goals are achievable! Working towards the next milestone of 5 pounds is totally do-able!

I hope some of you can also look ahead 4 weeks and see yourselves 5 pounds lighter. I plan to buckle up and get down to business
I'm sure that seatbelt will fit a lot more comfortably by then too!

Accessories Make the Woman

Every woman knows that accessories are a necessary part of everything we do. We need accessories to complete our wardrobes, to design our homes, and even to add finishing touches to our hair styles. We carry purses in every color, buy endless pairs of shoes and have jewelry for every outfit.
The fact is: Women are born to accessorize.

Recently, I found a new accessory for my travel bag to Thinville.

I bought myself an insulated drink tumbler. Perhaps some people will consider a plastic cup to be an absurd accessory for a weight loss journey. Still, the sturdy plastic cup has given me the motivation I needed to drink more water. I am happily more hydrated and delighted to carry around my flowery new cup.
Goodbye, boring water bottles. Hello,cute cup!

It’s funny how adding certain items to a diet and exercise regimen can motivate us towards our goals. Going to the gym is difficult for me. The worst part is trying not to draw unnecessary attention to myself when I am surrounded by so many attractive hard bodies. To help restore my confidence, I purchased some flattering workout clothes. Wearing clothing accessories that help me overcome feeling too self-conscious has helped me stay on the road to Thinville too.

During this journey, I also purchased a pedometer to count my steps and a weight ball to tone my muscles. I hope to maximize my use of every item.

Every little accessory, even a simple drinking cup, can motivate individuals towards their goals. What accessories are you finding most helpful on your journey?

You Can Be Fit over FIFTY!

There are many inspirational individuals who have healthy bodies to motivate all of us. I suppose there aren't as many publicized photos of people 50 and older who have superfit bodies, but they ARE out there.

We are exposed to many of the most attractive 'bodies 50 and over' by the media, particularly magazines. Recently, Valerie Bertinelli lost 50 pounds, celebrated her 50th birthday and got married. She looks great and seems happier than ever.

Christie Brinkley is over 50 (actually closer to 60), as fit as ever AND claims not to have had plastic surgery. She attributes her healthy, good looks to great genes, an active lifestyle and a wonderful dermatologist. Whatever she is doing, it's working.

And then there are the men. It is a well known fact that men tend to lose weight quicker than women. They also have more muscle and usually know a lot about toning those muscles. I remember being shocked when I saw 62 year old Ricardo Montalban in the movie: Star Trek II The Wrath of Kahn. Montalban was a long way from his days on Fantasy Island. He had an amazingly buff chest and physique. People challenged his appearance, but movie producers confirmed that he did NOT wear a prosthetic chest. Montalban was simply in great physical shape for his age and had the chest to prove it.

The days of accepting that we are too old to be in great physical shape are gone. It is time to start looking ahead so that we can adapt healthy lifestyles for tomorrow.

The average life expectancy today is between 75 and 80 years of age. Additionally, it is thought that 1 out of every 5 people may live to be over 100 years of age. Today is the first day of the rest of our lives!

Whether you are 20-30-50 or 70, what you do today decides how you will live tomorrow.

A Traveler's Poem

There once was a woman
from Spring Hill,
Who set out on a course
To find Thinville.

She ate less and less,
tried to decrease her stress,
and discovered the pathway
to true happiness.

She learned that the journey was daunting
Thinville often seemed far, far away
The path was uphill and uncharted
So easy to detour astray.

But onward the woman did travel,
The end of her journey in sight.
She followed the road map to Thinville
And her waist reappeared overnight.

Her body began to trim down.
No longer did she wear a frown.
From morning to night
She was a new sight,
And she worked it all over the town.

She continues her journey to Thinville
Determined to stay on the road.
When it comes to the calories and cookies
The traveler must lighten her load.

And now as she looks to the future,
She knows in herself she must trust,
There’s certainly no turning back now-
‘Cause it’s either Thinville or Bust!

What Works For Me

I am still amazed at my ongoing weight loss and devotion to this journey. Since I started this trip on Jan. 1, 2011, I have managed to stay focused on my destination: Thinville. I don’t know why I have remained vigilant, but I know what I am doing differently.

The formula is simple. Added calories = added pounds. For every 3500 calories consumed, we gain 1 pound of fat. Eliminating 500 calories a day will contribute to 1 pound of weight loss each week. Everyone has success stories and my story is not unlike many others.

Some reasons for my current success:

1. No Quick Fixes.
I decided from the beginning that I did not want short term success. I’ve tried quick fix methods in the past hoping to achieve big losses in short amounts of time. Unfortunately every time I tried to starve myself or follow rigid diet plans, I failed. This time, I just started out taking small steps.

2. Set reasonable goals.
Since I wasn't looking for a drastic change immediately, I set manageable goals for myself. I first decided to try and lose 1-2 pounds a week. This is not an overwhelming goal and it allows me to easily get back on track if I veer off a little from time to time. Ultimately, I hope to be 25-30 pounds lighter by summer.
I also hope to build a regular exercise regimen into my schedule. Thus far, I have not been as disciplined about exercise as I have been about my food intake. Still, whenever I eat more than I know I should have, out the door I go for a long walk. You could say exercise is my safety net, when my taste buds go astray.

3. Keep good foods in my kitchen.
Starting on the first day, I went to go to the grocery with a list of foods that would get me started on the right track. I have continued to shop regularly for more produce (including frozen fruits and veggies), nuts, whole wheat products and low calorie snack foods.

4. Count calories.
I read all my labels and keep track of every calorie I eat now. I’ve even started separating good calories from bad. I now focus on eating more high protein, high fiber foods. At the same time, I have cut down on salt, sugar, processed foods and fat.

5. Eat small meals and snacks throughout the day.
Eating small amounts throughout the day has helped me to balance my eating patterns. I do not feel famished after work and I can focus on good calorie choices. Most of my meals include vegetables and/or salads. When our bodies feel starved, our cells instinctively want to store fat. Eating small amounts of food keeps our metabolism working and that is where long term results show up.

6. Eat breakfast.
I used to just grab a cup of coffee and head out the door each day. Now, I try to eat something before starting my day. My favorite breakfast food has become oatmeal (See POST: The New Man in My Life). It is natural, high fiber and low calorie. I can add milk, fruit, nuts and even a little honey or sugar without feeling guilty. It also fills me up and carries me through the morning hours. AND it gets my metabolism started!

7. No more random snacking.
I used to come home from work and eat 200-400 calories in snacks before sitting down to dinner. Sometime after dinner, I usually had a snack as well. Now I’ve learned to limit my snacks and focus on healthier choices like nuts, olives, low fat cheeses, hard boiled eggs or low calorie snacks.

Part of making changes in my eating habits was asking myself ‘How did I get here?’. The easy answer is that I was eating more and exercising less.

I am still working to establish an exercise plan that I can stick with. I continue to read up on exercise tips frequently, but my main focus right now is still food intake. I am thrilled that the above steps continue to propel me towards my ultimate destination: THINVILLE.

Time to Change It Up

I am still losing weight steadily, but I feel like I need to add something to my trip at this point.

Keeping a steady course doesn’t seem like enough anymore. I knew the day would come when I would have to make a commitment to exercise and today is the day. Writing down goals is always the best way to accomplish objectives and since I am blogging- here goes.

I have decided to choose some specific activities that I will accomplish 3 days per week as follows:
1. 15 pushups (girl style at first)
2. 30 minutes of cardio
3. Work arms using weights or weight ball- 50 reps each arm/various moves
4. 50 situps/ varied

Since I will need accountability, I will post completion of these goals each day that I satisfy the 4 requirements.

I am a little intimidated by setting such definitive goals. However, I am encouraged by the fact that I have managed to stay on track with my diet so far. The best part of adding exercise is that if I can complete these goals 3 days a week, I will start to get my body toned too.

Thin AND toned is definitely the best way to arrive at Thinville.
What have I got to lose- except bulges?!

Before and After Stories

I love to hear success stories and see before and after pictures of people who have lost weight.

Today I found many weight loss success stories on
womenshealthmag.com .

I love Jennifer's story (pictured here) because I can relate to her weight. It started in the same range as mine. She was 180 and I was near it. She ended up at 135 and I would LOVE to end up there too! She is much younger than me, but nothing is impossible these days- even for a 50 year old.

Jennifer did not describe her turning point, but I know mine happened when I realized that I never wanted to see 180 lbs.- and I was close. For me, I couldn't keep heading in the direction that led to more unhappiness. I had many things happening in my life, and I wanted some control back.

I like success stories because they demonstrate that we can all achieve our goals, no matter where we are or how impossible the goals seem. When I read success stories, I like finding out what each individual did to stay on track during their journey. Most people have tips from their own experiences about exercise, food, or what kept them going.

I hope to eventually have a kick butt after picture one day too. Maybe somebody else will be motivated by my experience too.

Celebration Day!

Today it happened. I got on the scale and it read 165! My magic number has finally arrived. I have arrived at my first milestone goal and I am very excited.

I feel so motivated to stay on track and work towards my next goal. Having small achievable goals really helps me take things one day at a time. My next goal is 159. I haven't seen the 150's for a long time. I think I can make the trip in less than two weeks if I put the pedal to the metal - or my feet on the treadmill!

I promised myself that I would indulge in a few oatmeal cookies when I arrived at this milestone. Rewarding myself with food seems counter- productive, but I might have just one cookie.

Make small goals and stay on course.
Thinville is just over the horizon!

Rest Stop Ahead!

Today I discovered that I am within 1 pound of my first milestone goal!!

I have lost 12 pounds during these first 65 days of 2011. I had hoped to average a loss of 1-2 pounds a week on my journey and success feels good. I am traveling a little slower than I had hoped. However, as long as I am heading in the right direction- it's all good.

I am hoping that tomorrow I can take an exit to my first rest stop and celebrate the loss of one more pound. Yes, it will be time to celebrate if I lose 13 pounds.

Sooo exciting!!

Failure is Not an Option

There are many successful people in the world who failed on their way to success.

Many wealthy people lost everything they had before gaining their wealth. Some companies, like FedEx, were on the verge of losing everything when circumstances suddenly changed. Fred Smith started FedEx in 1973. The company lost $29 million during the first 26 months of operation. Smith's investors considered removing him from the helm of the fledgling company, but company president Arthur Bass backed the young founder. By late 1976, the company was carrying an average of 19,000 packages a night, and by year's end it was $3.6 million in the black.

Some people became rich and then lost everything before regaining their wealth, like Simon Cowell of American Idol. In his twenties, Cowell had some success in the music business and lived a lavishly rich lifestyle. But by thirty, he lost everything, and was forced to move back to his parents’ home. He didn’t give up. Fame came late and suddenly to Cowell. He was unknown at forty-two, nationally infamous by the time he turned forty-three and internationally famous only a few years later.

Steve Jobs, of Apple, dropped out of college before ever starting his computer company with a friend in his garage. But ten years after starting his company, the board at Apple fired him. He stated in a commencement address to Stanford University in 2005, “I didn’t see it then, but it turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that ever could have happened to me.” Jobs turned a humiliating career loss into an incredible success by changing his attitude and beginning again.

We can’t all be Steve Jobs or Simon Cowell, but we can all turn failure into success with our attitudes. Like Steve Jobs says, “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and your intuition.”

We learn from failure. Every time a batter strikes out, he learns what not to do next time. Such is life. Without failure, we would never be motivated to improve. Without failure, we would never appreciate success.

Failure makes us work harder to avoid mistakes in the future. With my track record, I should be able to avoid lots of mistakes in the future.

Bring it on- cause failure is NOT an option!

Don't Worry, Be Happy!

I am still losing weight AND I am still happy!

I've never stayed on any disciplined eating plan for this long - 62 DAYS! At first, I wasn't even sure I would keep up with a food log. I found a free food and exercise log on Self.com and thought I would give it a try. Since I didn't have to pay for it, I thought, "What the heck?" It occurred to me that since I wasn't paying into my weight loss investment, it might not stick. I was wrong. I have faithfully logged in everything I’ve eaten since January 1st.

The second thing I decided to do was write this blog. Actually, keeping up with this blog has been one of the more difficult challenges I have faced on this journey. I realize that nobody is really reading this blog, but part of me feels like I need to keep it current. Still, keeping this daily journal has helped me discover invaluable facts and tips about food, nutrition and exercise. I believe that without writing this blog, my perseverance would not be as great. Don’t get me wrong- It would be wonderful if I had some feedback and encouragement from others, but I'm satified that this web page is helping me work towards my goal.

I think timing has played a big part in my newfound happiness too. I was finally ready to make a change in my life. I came to a fork in the road and realized it was time to take a different path. I was tired of not being able to wear the clothes I love. I also found that I was embarrassed to take pictures or have old friends see the bigger me. Discouragement CAN BE a great motivator.

And here I am: happy. I feel very comfortable with my eating patterns and the foods I am now choosing to eat. It is still tempting to veer off the road, but I am trying to keep focused on my destination:
Thinville or Bust!

Color me happy!

Wrong Way!

I’m going in the wrong direction. Today was the first time since beginning this journey, that I discovered my scale is going up- instead of down.

I am still counting calories faithfully, but I have been eating too many of the wrong kind of calories and it shows. In recent days, I have wrongly convinced myself that sugar is OK as long as I count and limit the calories. In another lapse of judgment, I stopped paying attention to the fat content in foods.

I need to get back to eating pure unprocessed foods. Eating organic foods like fruits, vegetables and meats is very different from taking in processed or high sugar foods. My attempts to steer clear of processed foods are failing. I started to enjoy too many of the delicious 100 calorie (although processed) foods that lure me into defying my diet rules.

The result of my bad choices is obvious. My forward momentum and progress on this journey has stopped. The worst part is that I am now going in the wrong direction.

I plan to get turned around soon and get back on my way to Thinville.

Hitchhiking

I really need a lift. If only someone could pick me up and carry me the rest of the way to Thinville. Some days the road seems too long to endure. Lately, it seems that I am spinning my wheels and not getting anywhere.

Encouragement makes the road so much easier to travel. Recently, a friend who I hadn't seen in a while, noticed that I looked a little thinner. Actually, she said my butt looked tiny! She carried me a few miles with that comment!! It was so nice to receive validation that even 10 pounds can make a difference. I am noticing that all my pants are fitting better these days. Additionally, it doesn't seem that my belly sticks out quite as far as it did a month ago (of course, my perspective may be different from that of others). Successful results have a positive impact on my journey and carry me further down the road.

Sometimes discouragement makes me feel like a hitchhiker waiting on the side of the road. For now, I plan to stay on course and keep following my road map-
I just wish I could find some shortcuts!

Road Block Ahead

It’s too early to hit a road block. Seven weeks into this journey and my weight is holding steady at a 10 pound weight loss. The good news is that I am not gaining weight. The bad news is that I am not losing any either.

I’ve heard about people hitting a plateau, but not this early in the process. 10 pounds will simply not do. It won’t get me into skinny jeans or skimpy summer dresses.
It definitely won’t get me into the bathing suit of my dreams.

So where do I go from here? I had hoped to average a loss of at least 7 pounds a month. Right now, I have less than a week to lose 4 more pounds. My options are clear. I have to ramp up the exercise and buckle down on my diet. Both options are challenging with the weekend approaching fast.

Getting beyond road blocks is always a challenge. Sometimes we have to go around and sometimes we have to just break through. Either way, I have to ask myself how badly I want to reach my destination. Where there's a will, there's a way.
Stand by for updates...

Just a Fad

Anything that seems too good to be true, probably is.

Fad diets and quick fixes are everywhere. The problem is that they are what they seem:
weight loss plans that become popular for a short time and then disappear just as quickly.

I have generally kept away from diet programs that seem too crazy to make sense. I have found more than a few ridiculous eating plans in my quest to reach Thinville.

Any diet that limits you primarily to a single food or type of food, like grapefruits, cabbage or mostly meat will generally become very boring. I like most foods, but being encouraged to eat ANY one food over and over again is not really very exciting or motivating. Even if I could eat pizza every day, sooner or later I would be ready for a change. Variety still helps keep me on track.

Any diet that uses the words cleanse or detox is generally a bad idea. Most of the time, it means some kind of liquid fast is involved. It usually means extreme bathroom visits are involved too. Again, not real exciting.

Diets that promise losing many pounds in a short amount of time are also difficult to stay with for any extended amount of time. My efforts to jump start my trip to Thinville with quick weight loss fads have failed every time. Drastic changes to eating patterns rarely work.

I know now that quick fixes don’t work for me. Effective weight loss for me means having variety, flexibility and choices. Being a slave to food will never work for me.

Perseverance

This weekend I have been diligent about walking off a few calories. I know that a brisk walk does not burn off as many calories as a high cardio workout. Still, I feel good knowing that I did get outside and got my muscles moving.

I have been able to include 2 days of intentional exercise each week since starting this journey. It hasn't been enough to impact my weight loss tremendously, but I am trying to include some physical activity each week. Eventually I hope to increase my exercise goals.

My focus, thus far, has been on food. I have been very deliberate about planning and watching my meals and calorie intake. As I reach more weight loss goals, I hope that my fitness goals will also increase. Ultimately I want to shape this body into a well-toned machine.

It may be a lot to expect six pack abs and Madonna's arms, but making dreams come true is what this journey is all about. Anything is possible with perseverance.

Perseverance- noun.-
Steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement.

Caption: You Can't Let Go and Still Win

Hilton Head Beach: 3 Months Ahead

This weekend's weather was better than the last. Today the thermometer reached over 70 degrees. I can see summer weather ahead and I am anxious for June, when we will vacation at the beach in Hilton Head, S.C.

I love the beach and all warm weather vacation spots. However in recent years, my enjoyment of all places sunny has been hindered by my appearance insecurities. Let's face it: even the best bathing suit cannot cover up wide hips and a bulging belly. Even the longest shorts do not cover up thick thighs. As a result, I now own multiple pairs of capri length pants instead.

As I dream of warmer weather and sunny beaches, I am resolved to arrive at Hilton Head in a newly remodeled body. The road signs ahead indicate that the beach is just over 3 months in the distance. Staying focussed on the road ahead is important to me.

While Thinville is the ultimate destination, there will be stops along the way. I look forward to taking a small detour to Hilton Head Beach, where I hope to enjoy the surf in a new bathing suit- which will highlight my thinner self.

Surfs up- weight's down!

Detour Ahead

The thing about trying to be disciplined is that nobody is perfect. Sometimes, I just can't stay on track the way I would like to. Today was one of those days that I veered off the main road to Thinville and took a detour.

During the day, I stayed on course with my eating. By nightfall, my weekend tendencies kicked in. The husband brought home one of my favorite 'take out' dishes: Bang Bang Shrimp, from Bonefish Grill .

Although Bang Bang Shrimp is a seafood dish, those little shellfish are fried and covered in a deliciously creamy hot sauce -that must be full of fat and calories. Bonefish always sends baked bread to accompany the take out shrimp and tonight I had to taste a slice of the freshly baked loaf - actually two. Oh, and I might have added a few pats of butter to my bread too. Throwing caution to the wind, I also decided to enjoy one of my husband's special raspberry martinis as well. It is the weekend, after all.

My calorie count for the day isn't crazy, but my body took in a lot of extra fat and sugar tonight.

The nice thing about detours is that they are temporary. There is always a route back to the main road. Tomorrow, I will get back on track and take advantage of warmer weather outside. My dog is always up for hiking a couple miles. Once I get out into the fresh air, I always enjoy it as well. Exercise offers me the option of burning off a few of those extra calories I enjoyed tonight. As a result, my Fun Food Friday won't be a great setback.

Yes, taking detours usually mean slowing down the trip and delaying arrival times. Choosing this alternate route may delay my arrival to Thinville, but some detours make life a little more enjoyable and interesting.

Happiness is a direction, not a place. ~Sydney J. Harris

Successful Sunday

Today was a beautiful Sunday that was part of a beautiful weekend. After snowy days that seemed to never end, the sun came out and warmed everything to near 60 degrees today.

These are the kind of days that make people want to get outside and wash cars, play with their kids or walk their dogs. My dog and I enjoyed a long walk and we could not get enough of the great weather. When I arrived home, I had to open windows and bring in all the fresh air. It did not seem like a February day.

Today reminded me that warm temperatures are coming soon. March is just around the corner. As the temperatures rise, appetites decrease. Soon our tendencies to eat and hibernate will fade away.

This weekend I was very disciplined about my calorie count. It could be that the weather helped distract me from eating. Or it could be that I am getting better at staying on track. Each week I find that Friday to Sunday I am presented with my greatest food challenges. This weekend was different.

Whatever the reason, it was a successful Sunday and I'm all about success on this journey. Color me happy.