Monday, January 31, 2011

The Scale Story: Monday

This week I'm weighing daily and posting the scale story daily just for fun.

This morning I weigh 275.5. What? No way (weigh? ha!) did I lose 1.5 pounds yesterday. I swear my scale is possessed. I will be so surprised if I'm still at 275.5 next Sunday for my official weigh in. Drives me crazy when I see a nice number early in the week but not on my weigh in day!

A fleeting glimpse of future accomplishments, I guess.

Sunday, January 30, 2011

It's Not Too Late, a Pound for Tamsin

I am so excited at the response to my birthday challenge! Here's who contacted me last week about joining me:

Carrie
Jill
Cathi
Anita
Holly
Julie
Dee
Debi
Linda
Robin
Erin
Patty
Jenny
Stella
Corinna (AU)
Hanna
Deb
Michelle (AU)

Meanwhile, if you didn't check in last week, here's the scoop: I challenge you to lose 5 pounds by my 50th birthday (Feb 17). Let me know if you want to join and how you do--if we collectively lose 150 pounds, I'm donating a dollar a pound to the American Cancer Society for us. I can't wait to see how we all do! Keep me posted, okay?

I lost a pound again this week. I also read something that resonated with me. Focus on the direction, not the destination. I think I'll add deadline to that (the part to not focus on). I am so glad I'm 15 pounds less than I was last year. Yes, it could be more. It has been painfully slow, but I ended up heading the right direction overall.

I'm going to dedicate this coming week's weight loss efforts to my niece Tamsin. Tamsin, this pound's for you!

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Bonnie's Birthday Challenge

I had a flash of inspiration this morning. What if you helped me reach my goal of 50 pounds by my 50th birthday? I really, really, really want to lose at least 5 pounds by my birthday when I go see the cancer doc (see my first blogs for that story) for my 18 month all clear.

Here's the challenge: Lose 5 pounds by Bonnie's birthday, February 17. If we collectively lose 150 pounds (that's 30 of us losing 5 pounds, right? My math can be creative sometimes!), I will donate $150 in our names to the American Cancer Society. Email me, call me, text me, leave a comment--let me know if you want to join! I'd like to list first names of all who want to be part of the challenge, so let me know if you want to be anonymous.

I know I can do this-- and it would be so much fun to have some company for this goal. PLEASE help me.

By the way, not all of you need to lose weight (you know who you are), so only play if this is healthy for you.

Oh! I lost a pound last week.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

#50: 50 Pounds in 50 Blogs, A Proud Day

Well, I've reached that nice round number. When I began in July '10 to chart this course, I was full of resolve, hope, motivation and desperation. I felt I had to reach this goal. There was no other option.

I'm not even half way there. 13.5 pounds in 50 blogs. Does that have an inspiring Julie and Julia ring to it? Kind of makes me smile, as a matter of fact. Have you noticed that magazines tempt you with article teasers like 7 ways to clean your house in 8 minutes a day? What happened to nice round numbers like 10, 15, 20? I guess I'm following trend.

So what am I proud of?

I am proud of my efforts and how I've begun this journey. I don't know how many blogs it will take 'til I've lost 50 pounds (turns out I don't lose weight blogging-weird, I know), but I know I'm not giving up. It may be 93 blogs or 127 blogs, but I'll get there. When I do, I plan to celebrate big and keep on going!

I'm proud that I'm dealing with the most destructive relationship (food) I've ever had and I'm not taking the abuse any more.

I'm proud that I sought professional help and am open to Kaleo's advice and guidance. I've read 3 of the 5 books she suggested.

I'm proud that I'm taking the time to find the root of my problem instead of just throwing solutions at it.

I'm proud that I exercise regularly at Curves and that I chart my weight regularly at Weight Watchers online.

I'm proud that I am beginning to love myself and desire that my home be a safe haven for me instead of a place where all I see is my lack of progress.

I'm proud that I've had the courage to share this with others and to bare my heart each week. Writing keeps me honest with myself, so this has been a touch stone for my emotions.

Thank you for your love and support. If I could lose weight just by channeling that, I would be a supermodel!

Sunday, January 9, 2011

#49

Ugh. I'm not sure if I hate posting this because I'll disappoint you or if I don't want to admit it to myself. Oh well, let's rip off the band aid quickly... I gained. Again.

I am a smart woman. Why can't I conquer this? I make big plans and dream big dreams, but at the end of the day I crave - no, not the food - the numbness of eating in front of the television.

Let me paint a picture of the week for you. Last Tuesday I had a root canal on one tooth and a cavity and partial crown on another. Of course, this is on top of all the final preparations for Stampin' Up! leadership in Nashville, so I couldn't really take time off. As a matter of fact, lots of early mornings and late nights at work this week. Also, I've been fighting off a stubborn sinus infection and went back to the doctor on Friday because I wasn't feeling any better. After seeing the doc and filling my prescription, I went to work. I felt like toast (not eating it--hee hee), so I came home early and fell asleep watching Law and Order. I forgot to contact my friend Paula and cancel lunch plans, so she texted me at 2:45 to see if I wanted to pick her up or just meet her at the restaurant. Yikes! I bailed as gracefully as I could (she was gracious and understanding), then slept until 5:00 when it was time to tend the boys (Parker and Landon).

While that's not the worst week in the history of the universe (or even in my distant past), for some reason it really drained me. So much that all I could muster Saturday and Sunday was lots of recliner and television surfing time. On top of that I kept telling myself I was a drip and a loser. Harsh. I KNOW I'm not.

So it's time for me to be nice to myself. It's been a stressful, pain filled week and it's natural I would turn to a tried and true method for dealing with both things. I will feel better soon-the root canal pain is beginning to fade and I'm sure by tomorrow this antibiotic will kick in. I have a fun week ahead of me--lots of friends and hugs await in Nashville.

I'm not quitting!

Saturday, January 1, 2011

#48: Time for a New Goal!

I'm jumping right in here since the new year is a time for reflection.

Have I failed? I failed to lose 50 pounds in 50 blogs. I'm fairly sure I won't get those 'last' 33.5 pounds off prior to my 50th birthday in February either. But I'm still here, still fighting, and more determined than ever - so no, I did not fail. As a matter of fact, I am more successful now than I have been for a long time in accomplishing my overall goals. I haven't quit, I haven't gained 15 pounds, and I have begun to more clearly understand my complex relationship with food.

Here are my new goals:
Big goal: 212 by 2012
Midway goal: 245 by Convention (mid July)
Birthday goal: 264 by February 17
January 15 goal: 269

I know I can do this if I'm diligent and temperate. I feel a plateau breakthrough coming on!