Thanksgiving

I'm fortunate that I only had one Thanksgiving dinner to eat. That means, it wasn't so difficult to eat right. Still struggling with motivation, but seeing that I feel so much better when I eat right. Now if I can just kick the chocolate, I'll have a reason to be really thankful!

Did you eat lots for Thanksgiving? Get right back on track today!

Michelle

Hitting a Wall and Finding Inspiration

I've hit that point that I always hit after a few weeks of trying to eat right. I find myself falling into old habits without realizing it. Sometimes while realizing it and ignoring my conscience. I struggled with getting up to exercise for a few days this past week, but I'm back on track and forcing motivating myself to get out of bed in the morning. What do you do to keep your momentum? 

One thing I like to do is shake things up a little. Maybe it's adding a new food. Maybe it's adding a new exercise. Sometimes it's finding a new tool online or a book at the library related to weight loss. I'm always looking for motivation.   

I saw an article in a Good Housekeeping magazine that mentioned a site that might provide some inspiration. www.weightmirror.com is a site where you can upload a current picture of yourself and then set your weight and height. Then you drag the slider to the amount of weight you want to lose and it will show you what you will look like. You can print the picture and hang it on your refrigerator or you can e-mail it to yourself for inspiration. The magazine called it thinspiration!

Michelle

Celebrate Your Small Victories

Today, I had a small reason to celebrate. I won a victory over something that usually beats me. I had a meeting in town so I stopped at Culvers and ordered a kids meal for my supper. They come with this little ticket that allows you to have a free frozen custard with the meal. It's one of the reasons I like eating there.

Anyway, partway through my meal, I had this idea that I should save the free ice cream for another visit, sometime when my family is with me.

Nah, I thought, that's the best part!

But then I had the same thought again. So when I finished my burger and small fries, I put the coupon in my purse and left the restaurant. Now that was a victory, since I had been reading the nutrition guides while I was eating. Turns out, that custard is loaded in calories!

What little victory have you had this week? Have you celebrated that?

Drumroll please...

...Are you ready for the scale reveal?.....I lost a whole........3/4 of a pound this week.

Seriously, that's just how it is with me. I lose very slow. But I'm feeling great and I'm dedicated to sticking it out. The group support is so awesome, I don't know what I'd do without these ladies. It's taken time, but we're at a point where we can truly support one another, problem solve, and yes, lecture each other to get back on track when needed.

Group support is such a key factor in successful weight loss. It's because of these ladies that I have managed to maintain this year and not gain a bunch of weight. Now, together we're spurring each other to move forward and shed some pounds.

What's motivating you this week?

Facing the scale...

It's weigh-in night again and I'm off to face the scale. I hope it has moved this week!

Have you faced the scale this week? Drop in on the comments below to share how you feel about it. 

Michelle

Day Eight

 

I'm feeling great. The heartburn that I had last week has subsided greatly with making some changes in what I eat. I know that sugar is one of my problems when I get heartburn. Still trying to get over my need to see success on a scale and fighting my own self every day to keep sticking with the program. I don't weigh myself at home because I'm so driven by the numbers.

Instead, I weigh every week at our group meetings. This tracks my progress but keeps me away from my habit of gauging my day by the scale. 

How about YOU? What did you do today that will make it more likely that you will reach your goal?

10 LBS by New Years Challenge

 Have a Healthy Holiday

Looking for a challenge to jump-start you before the holiday trouble hits? Wouldn't it be fabulous to get to New Years without the usual holiday 5 pound gain? And wouldn't it be even better to have lost weight over the holidays?! Yeah, you know it would totally boost your confidence. Think of the jeans that will fit better at the holidays instead of sitting with the top button undone by New Years.

Let's set a goal of losing 10 pounds before New Years, I know it can be done, becasue I did it once. Yes, I actually got through Thanksgiving and Christmas and lost weight. Unfortunately, I only did it once, but I'm ready to do it again.

We have 8 weeks before 2010 hits, and that means a loss of just 1 1/4 pounds per week. Do-able!

Who's in on the challenge?

Monday Weigh-In 11/2

Have you ever had a pretty good week complete with more than adequate exercise and balanced eating? And have you ever had the scale do almost nothing on a week like that? Happens to me all the time. It's how I frequently lose momentum in any weight-loss program.

I weighed in tonight and lost a whole pound. I'm determined to keep going even if the scale should have showed something more than that this week.

A New Body Measurement System

I need to be lighthearted about how I approach eating less and working out more. Let's face it, it's not the most fun idea. It means giving up extra brownies and full fat lattes. It means getting up early in the morning, before the birdies start chirping, to puff and sweat with a DVD of an overly chipper workout coach. Yuck. To the sweat, that is.

So, as I thought about how to document my progress, I decided to create my own version of body measurements.

If you're working on getting in shape, and you want to record your progress in inches, try my 5-point measurements and record them somewhere. If you're brave, post them in a comment below! All you need to get started is a flexible measuring tape.

Measurement #1- Muffin Top

First, we measure our muffin tops. Get out your favorite pair of jeans. Not the ones that you just purchased because nothing fits, the pair that you can comfortably wear as long as you do some deep knee bends and stretches after you get them zipped.

Now, look in the mirror. See that part that hangs over the top of your jeans? That's the muffin top. I know, seeing that made you hungry, but don't stop for a snack. Measure around that muffin top.

Measurement #2 - "The Girls"

Now, it's time to measure the girls. Delicate subject, I know. But it's a backhanded way of tracking back fat too (pun intended). I'm sorry if you're a male reader; just measure your pectorals and move on.

Wrap the measuring tape around your upper back and under your arms and around to the front meeting the ends together at the, ahem...widest point. This point ought to be well above your belly button, providing you're properly supported and you've survived any  trauma related to post-childbirth.

Measurement #3 - Junk in the Trunk

Moving down to the area we'd all like to diminish, it's time to see how much junk you have in the trunk. Measure around your hips and buttocks at the widest point. Don't gasp. Just write the number down.

Measurement #4 - Cellulite Packs

In case you aren't familiar with cellulite, it's that lumpy stuff that looks like the dimply surface of a good focaccia bread, only this isn't good. Your best cellulite stores are likely packed on your thighs, so let's measure those. Stand with both feet on the ground, slightly apart. Measure one of your thighs at the widest point.

If you have trouble balancing, contorting, and measuring at the same time, you can ask a friend to help. But get someone you trust with the knowledge of the size of your cellulite packs.

Measurement #5 - Pendularms

Finally, measure your pendularms, you know, your pendulum arms. This is the part of the arm that keeps waving hello after you stop. Again, this might be difficult to measure by yourself, but if you can buckle a watch or put on a bracelet with one hand, you can do this. If not, ask someone in your household to help you and pretend you're getting fitted for swim floaties. Measure around the widest part of your upper arm with your arm dangling by your side.

I contorted and measured, and gasped and here are my results:

Muffin Top: 43.5"

"The Girls": 44.5"

Junk in the Trunk: 48"

Cellulite Packs: 27"

Pendularms: 14"

Now it's your turn...(copy and paste into your comments if you dare)

Muffin Top:

"The Girls":

Junk in the Trunk:

Cellulite Packs:

Pendularms:

Day Six

It's weigh-in day. I attend a First Place 4 Health group and we weigh in at each meeting before we have our bible study time. I'm hoping for a loss this week. I cut back on the calories and exercised 240 minutes which translates to 14 miles of walking in the week. The biggest part of the challenge will be to press on if the scale shows no difference!