Weigh In: .5 lb Gain

187.5 lbs

I never wanted to have to report a gain, but here we are. I am up but still hovering very closely to the 187 mark. This is totally a psychological bridge I am trying to cross, and once I do everything will be fine.

I remember experiencing the same thing before when I got to the lowest weight I had been in a really long time. I began sabotaging myself. That has been put to a stop.I just need to get back into my rhythm. I'm not worried and I'm not down or anything. I feel great!

NSVs

• Lowest ever blood pressure reading this week!! 118/65
• Exercised EVERY single day this past week
• Got the entire house in order and feeling great about that!
• 14.5 miles total for the week (combination of walk/jog/bike)
• Had a family picture taken that I didn't shudder to look at!
  
  

Because I chose to eat like a fool over the weekend, just take a look at what I had to give up yesterday:

My very favorite chocolate cake in the whole world! (and it was still warm)

Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream...Dear Lord--when will I learn?

I will leave you with some beautiful images from my evening walk yesterday.

The view from our backyard

On my route..

118 Over 65

'Twas my blood pressure reading yesterday! I believe when it was taken in December at the doctor's office it was around 140/80. Yikes! 118/65 is optimal. In fact, a diastolic reading of 65 is described as being that of an "athlete." Booyah!

I needed that type of reminder yesterday in the midst of more bad choices on my part. While the physical changes on the outside are amazing, the changes on the inside are not only life changing but life sustaining. That is where my focus must remain.

Today I am back on track. So far I have have had 2 servings of fruit, 1 oz. of grains, 1 serving milk, 4 oz. protein, 1 serving vegetable, 2 tsp. fat. So between a snack and dinner I need 4 oz grains, 2 servings milk, 1 serving vegetables, 3 tsp. fat

For the rest of the day I am thinking:

snack
weight watchers smoothie with skim milk: 2 milks
dinner
whole wheat pasta with tomato pesto: 4 oz grains, 3 tsp. fat
broccoli: 1 serving vegetable

Okay. Great. That was more for me than anyone else.

I will also need to get a run in today. Think I will go on my 5K route and try to make it without walking. Only 55 days until the Broken Bow 5K!!! My first race ever since high school. Whoohoo!

Thanks for all the encouragement yesterday--although no one scolded me. You all are softies. I was a little disappointed. :)

Movin' on...

The Hangover

If I never see another tortilla chip in my life, that will be A-Okay. Let's take it from the top:

Friday April 23, 2010
7:00 am
1/2 c. yogurt, granola, banana, whole wheat English muffin, 2 tsp. peanut butter, coffee, water.

So far, so perfect.

11:00 am
Ham and Cheese on whole wheat with lettuce, tomato, pickles and 1 tsp mayo, 100 cal. bag popcorn, green apple

Great. And that's where the greatness ends.

3:30 pm
1 Sonic chicken strip, small fries

And let the poor choices roll...

4:00 pm
tortilla with peanut butter and honey. (did not measure)

6:00 pm
80 million greasy tortilla chips, apx. 1/2 c. queso, water (brief shining moment), brisket quesadillas???? (What in the HECK?) sour cream, guac, more chips, sopapilla, honey, butter.

Holy Mongolia! I am such a hypocritical, backsliding, moron. Oh wait, there's more...

10:00 pm
1 scoop cookies and cream Bluebell on a sugar cone

12:30 am
cop coaxes me and my fellow mommies from the Mommy and Me playgroup to leave the ice cream place patio which closed 2 hours prior. Whole other blog post...

6:30 am
alarm rings, time for FP4H workout at the church.

Oh. My. Lord. I feel like total and complete poo poo. The chips and nasty brisket quesadillas were SO not worth this!! SO not.

I have never had one but this has to be worse than an alcohol induced hangover. This is a tortilla chip/ice cream induced hangover. Much worse.

When I said "the choice is ours" yesterday, I bet you thought I would make the right ones, huh? So did I.

Ugh! *Kicking myself in the butt*

Whoa! on the "Woe is Me"

You know those weeks when you eat really bad, don't exercise at all and drag yourself to the scale only to see you lost mucho pounds? Sweetness!

And you know those weeks when you eat everything by the book, exercise your booty off and hop on the scale to find you gained a couple? What the heck!?

Well, before the pity party gets underway, let us remember that usually the first type of week is closely followed by the second.

Moral(s) of the story:

1. If it seems too good to be true it probably is.
2. Bad choices will always catch up with you.

Thoughts for the weekend! Make it a great one...or not. The choice is ours.

A New Start

Last night was the beginning of a new 12 week session of my First Place 4 Health group. I began this program in January and I have since lost about 30 pounds (I had lost some before that as well.) The program is very similar to Weight Watchers, in my opinion. The main difference is that in addition to addressing the physical, mental and emotional connection to food, FP4H incorporates a spiritual component, which has been crucial for me being able to sustain willpower.

The way food is addressed in FP4H is very much akin to the old "Core Plan" on WW, which ironically never worked for me a well as the Point system did. Counting Points worked great for me in losing weight but it always felt like I was trading one obsession (food) with another (counting food). That didn't seem good. I am much more relaxed where food is concerned now. It doesn't have as much power over me as it used to and that is good.

I remember how overwhelmed I was 12 weeks ago when I first began. I could see that familiar glazed over look in the eyes of my new comrades last night. I felt sorry for them but so happy for what they could potentially gain from this program. In the beginning, I was confused and on information overload but I was excited, too. Even though I had found myself at the starting line of a weight-loss endeavor many, many time before there was something different about this one. I could just sense it.

It turns out I was right. Since I began I have found that there are times I just need stop and sit down, rub my aching whatevers and pout a little bit. And I have found that's okay...because there is always someone there to help me back up and run alongside me. I have found that some days feel so natural like I was born to do this and there are other days when it is all I can do to put one foot down in front of the other. But I keep going. For the first time in my life I have found myself at a starting line that has no finish. That is sort-of a tiring thought, but it is also freeing.

I hope the ladies who began their race with me last night realize that this is not your typical race. There is no urgency. The only pace that we have to worry about is our own. And the coolest thing of all is that where our strength in the race ends--His begins. So basically, the sooner we run out of juice, the better!

Praying for my fellow racers on this day, near and far.