Week 33

Yeah, summer vacation hit and my posting evaporated.

Good news and bad news. Good news is that I managed to mostly behave over holidays and my weight is not higher than when I last posted. Bad news is that its not lower either.

I really need to break out of this rut and off this plateau. Only two months until I run that race, not going to succeed if I'm stuck here.

Saturday Weight: 201.5 lbs

Week 29

Mad some progress this week and even forced my scale to give up the magic number, 201.5 lbs representing 30 lbs lost! Hooray! Of course, I say forced because Saturday morning I was 202 lbs and after breakfast, a visit to the washroom, and a shower I weighed myself again and found I had misplaced the extra half pound. Whatever, I'll take it.

Its getting to the point where my "thin" clothes are getting too baggie for me, which is good, but I can't afford to replace my wardrobe, which is bad. So I make comprises by cinching my belt ever tighter and wearing my extra thin clothes which have a layer of dust three inches thick on them.

Saturday Weight: 201.5 lbs

Week 28

I had a good week with good eating and lots of exercise, and it paid off Saturday with a new low of 202 lbs, putting me just a half a pound from 30 lbs lost.

Its also been a good week for people noticing and complimenting me on my slimmer form (albeit still fat) which is nice for the self esteem. Just need to keep up the effort with some good exercise this week. I wasn't feeling well yesterday so skipped exercising and felt guilty about it all day. Definitely going to hit the treadmill tonight but I really need to start running outside to get ready for the race I registered for in the fall.

SO MUCH PRESSURE!

Saturday Weight: 202 lbs

Week 27

Ugh, still sitting at 205.5 lbs this week. Not getting enough exercise and too many cheats. Been doing better this week but still all out of sorts. Now that I'm back at work, I'm am going to get back on the treadmill and start to turn this ship around.

Saturday Weight: 205.5

Weeks 25 and 26

Week 25 Saturday Weight: 205.5
Week 26 Saturday Weight: 203.0

Its been a crazy couple weeks of ups and downs and not huge progress. Too many special occasions with lots of delicious food accompanied by too many slip ups. Success has made me weak. I've been hovering around the 203-205 mark a lot and really need to buckle down, get some real exercise again, and get below 200 lbs.

Vacation is the worst for bad habits, fortunately I'm back at work next week.

Week 24

I got on the scale on Saturday morning after a week of doing well with my eating and getting back on the treadmill the day before and was pleased to hit a new low of 203.5 lbs. Then I had a pretty naughty weekend with lots of high callorie snacking at Greenbush with my family and then some questionable choices at home on Sunday with Kim's parents. Was more than a little shocked to see 207 Monday morning on the scale. YIKES!

Fortunately I suspect its one of those local highs and I'm working at bringing that back down. Try to get some more time on the treadmill as I practice for the 5km run I'm planning on doing this fall. This morning it was 206 already so I should be back in fighting form by the weekend. Can't afford that again if I want to hit 200 in July.

Saturday Weight: 203.5 lbs

Week 23

I was very happy to come in at 204.5 this past weekend, but since then I've had no exercise and lots of stress as my Grandma passed away at age 92. I've got today off for the funeral so I worked extra hard to try and get ahead of my work instead of behind it. Gah. I hope things get less stressful next week.

Since the weekend I've been going a bit heavier rather than lighter. Right now I just hope to maintain my weight next Saturday.

Saturday Weight: 204.5

Week 22

Progress!

Saturday I weighed in at 206 which is a new low for the weekly weigh in, but disappointing as I was hoping to eke out another half pound for the weigh in after a good week of exercise and eating within the goals.

But then Sunday I clocked in at 205 lbs and today I'm hitting 204.5 lbs! Now lost 27 lbs overall. Hope I can keep it off for the rest of the week until Saturday but knowing my luck I'll sit heavy that day. I should move my weekly weigh in to Monday.

Funny thing is that I had my monthly cheat day on Sunday. And still didn't gain. Can't count on that every time but sometimes things work out.

In other news, I'm going to sign up for a fall race to run 5 km. Its an effort to provide incentive for my work on the treadmill and get me to push the speed I move from fast walk to actual running.

Saturday weight: 206.0 lbs

Week 21

Overall it was a good week in that I dropped back down to 206.5 and avoided eating a McDonald's Big Mac on Sunday despite being very very hungry. And, for more good news, recorded a new low of 206.0 lbs this morning.

However, My Fitness Pal took my weight loss as a perfect opportunity to offer to lower my caloric goals, and being the fool I agreed, so I found myself facing a chop of 60 calories a day from my diet. EGADS! I'M NOW SO VERY HUNGRY! Curse you psychology!

Time to load up on more vegetables in the house.

Saturday Weight: 206.5

Week 20

After last week's huge drop of over 3 pounds, I was not surprised to weigh in a pound heavier this week. I've been floating around the 207-208 area for the period and figure next week it will push lower as long as I behave. Having trouble fighting the "snackies" lately, where I have a single chocolate egg or a big of a rice crispie square and don't count it. I've recognized the issue and taking steps to address it but its hard, those small things are so small yet so tasty!

I took Lukas to the pool on Saturday, and even though I'm still very fat I felt a lot better about walking around with him without a shirt. I'll feel even better once I lose another 25 lbs.

Saturday Weight: 207.5

Week 19

On Saturday I hit another milestone as my scales dipped surprisingly low to 206.5 lbs, representing 25 lbs lost overall and half of my goal loss of 50 lbs. I was so shocked after a week of hitting around 208, and a new low the day before of 207.5, that I had to step on the scales again to make sure it was not a glitch.

So the battle continues. New jeans of size 34 fit nicely, all my summer shirts fit very comfortably, and tennis is starting up and I continue to hit the treadmill. I survived the Easter family dinners and minieggs with only a temporary slowdown and nothing but work work and more work on the house from here to mid summer. Everything is coming up sixes!

Saturday Weight: 206.5

Week 18

All week I was hovering around 208 and 208.5 until I got to Saturday and I stepped on the scales and saw 209.5 lbs. Cue insane rage; I really wanted to set a new low this week for my official weigh ins. Spent the rest of the weekend hovering around 209 and didn't get back to 208 lbs until today. I'm really hoping to drop below that marker this week.

Still, my weight loss has gotten to the point where all of my pants are far too big on me. Had Kim order me a couple pairs of size 34 jeans which means I really can't afford to stop calorie counting now! Even though my rate of loss has slowed down I'm still making progress. I need to buckle down more now that the Easter chocolates are gone. Sigh. Hitting 200 by July 1st looks to be unlikely.

Saturday Weight 209.5

Week 17

Sorry there was no post last week, Easter and Birthdays took all my attention.

I have found my weakness and it is mini-eggs.

I can avoid the temptation of all other Easter treats but mini-eggs... they are so small yet so tasty I find myself slipping a couple into my mouth all the time! Fortunately, they don't last and I behaved on almost all other fronts. The two Easter family dinners in a row were hard, though, especially avoiding too much desert.

The week after Easter I got down below 210 but stayed in the 209.5-211.0 range for a week and clocked in at 209.5 on Saturday. But Monday morning I stepped on the scales and was hugely surprised by the numbers 208.0 lbs! And again today so it wasn't a fluke. So I feel good.

That means I've officially lost 23.5 lbs which is significant because it means I have lost over 10% of my original body weight which does not sound like a lot but really it is. Next milestone is just a pound and a half away to represent half way to my goal of losing 50 lbs.

Now that Easter dinners and chocolate are behind us and spring weather is in front, I have hope I can do it sooner rather than later.

Saturday weight: 209.5

Week 15

Yes, this saturday I weighed more than last Saturday, but I can explain!

Earlier in the week I dropped down to 210.5 lbs and then 210.0 lbs by Friday morning which made me very happy. However, Friday was my once-a-month "cheat day" where I don't track calories and I indulge in my desires for too much food and chocolate. Ah, so good. But the upshot of that is a couple days getting back down again after the sudden infusion of food.

Anyway, now that I'm toying with 210 lbs, I am looking at my next goal of 200 lbs by July 1st. That gives me 2.5 months to accomplish it so I'm hopeful.

Saturday Weight: 212.0 lbs

Week 14

One reason I started blogging this weight loss journey was to write my thoughts so I could pass them on to others struggling with weight loss later on, sort of, "I did it but it wasn't easy and it took time" lesson. Another reason is to allow me to gain perspective on a weekly basis to see progress over time as compared to day to day.

This is a perfect example:
Week 10: 216 lbs
Week 11: 214 lbs
Week 12: 213 lbs
Week 13: 213.5 lbs
Week 14: 211.5 lbs

So taken together we see that over the past four weeks I've lost 4.5 pounds, comfortably over my 1 lbs a week goal. But on the daily basis I feel frustrated because I hit 211 between the week 12 and 13 weigh ins, and hit 211 again between week 13 and 14 weigh ins, but didn't break below 211 on Saturday. So I feel disappointed that I failed to do so, while the big picture reveals everything is going along swimmingly. This is why daily weigh ins can be a bad idea.

Anyway, beyond frustration I've also had a lot of cravings for unhealthy food this past week and especially this weekend. I avoided breaking my goals (for the most part) but I'm struggling right now for some delicious junk food. Hopefully this week I can break down to 210.5 lbs for some positive motivation.

Saturday Weight: 211.5

Unlucky Week 13

I had an up and down week for this one.

Early on in the week I went from Saturday's weigh in of 213 down to 212 and then 211! I broke the 20 lb mark! Hurray! .... And then I prompty had a splurge day on Thursday and ill-advised amount of ma and cheese dinner on Friday and faced 213.5 lbs on the scale on Sunday. *facepalm*

Fortunately I'm back in the saddle and weighed 212 lbs this morning so I expect to be returning to 211 and parts beyond soon. Local highs versus local lows and all that. As long as it keeps trending down over time.

On the day I did hit 211 I was talking to Andrew about my success and how happy I was and another friend piped up asking how I was doing it. I blithely replied "eating less" and he proceeded to inform me that I had to do more than that or else it would not stay off... you know, the usual well intentioned stuff that we all (should) know about lifestyle changes versus fad diets, etc. I said, "yeah yeah, I know the theory and everything" and he started in on me that it wasn't just theory and I should do this and that and I kind of lost it on the poor guy. I know he was trying to help but I hate unsolicited advice, especially about weight control from people who have never been fat in their life.

Saturday Weigh In 213.5 lbs

Week 12

And the good news keeps on coming. Another week, another whole pound lost.

We're sitting at the cusp of 212 lbs, the low point marker from last year. I need to break past it as a mental block to prove to myself I can keep going and not get stuck like I did last spring. Incidentally, 211.5 lbs represents the 20 lbs lost marker, so double whammy.

Spring cannot get here son enough for more outside time and activity.

Saturday Weight: 213.0 lbs

Week 11

Despite hitting a new excellent low of 214 lbs this Saturday after a week where I was hovering around 215, and a low I might add that was 2.5 lbs down from the week before, AND a weight that represents my successful non-sick lowest weight from last year when I counted calories, I still feel fat.

The first ten pounds feels like you've lost a million. The next ten? Feels like only a handful. Sigh.

On the bright side, since I still feel fat it means I'm still dedicated to counting calories and continuing to lose weight unlike last year where I really ran out of steam and started letting a lot of bad habits back in by this time. It give me promise that this time is different and I'm going to reach my goal of 180 lbs this year.

Besides, I might still feel large but there is tangible evidence I'm continuing to get smaller. My pants are constantly getting looser, my belt is on its last notch down two from December, my shirts and sweaters are all getting baggy except my new ones which are only XL instead of XXL... I'm losing weight, just feels so slow.

With Jiu Jitsu ending this month I'm going to have to really work harder in the work gym to keep up the healthy weight loss. I'm really dying for summer where I can start getting moving outside more. Here's to under 200 by summer's end!

Saturday Weight: 214.0 lbs

Week 10

Despite spending all week at 216.0 lbs, Saturday morning my body decided to piss me off and jumped to 216.5. Sigh. One of those local highs I was telling you about. But then Sunday I was 215.5 lbs, and today 215.0 so its all good.

I had a bit of trouble controlling myself around the chips and mini-eggs at Kaelan's birthday party yesterday so I was forced to have only a banana and one slice of toast for dinner, still blowing my calorie limit for the day. Not smart. Going to need more willpower if I'm going to keep going down. Fortunately summer with its plenty of physical activity is coming and I'm hoping to power through the 212 mark before June gets here. Two months, should be easy.

Saturday Weight: 216.5

Week 9

After last week's big drop I was expecting to hold the line or even bounce up a pound but was happy to see a little dip again. *Happy Dance* As long as I can keep from plateauing this time at the ~215 mark I should be good to go on down below 200. *fingers crossed*

Anyways, while entering my progress on MyFitnessPal.com it asked me if I wanted to update my goals. Huh, never saw this before, I said to myself. I picked OK and it promptly lowered my daily caloric goals from 1870 calories to 1810. While its only a 60 calorie difference, it felt like 600! It convinced me I need to get more exercise more often.

Summer can't get here soon enough.

Saturday Weight: 216.0