2 weeks in!

In recent years I have been notorious for being successful at losing weight for about two weeks and then I fall off the wagon.  The last time I had a great two weeks and then my parents (whom I adore, but unfortunately at 28 am still living with) went out of town and I went into eat whatever I want mode because no one was around to hold me accountable.  Well today marks 12 days (I'm switching my weigh in to Saturdays instead of Mondays so I'm saying today is two weeks) and virtually two weeks on my latest attempt at shedding the weight.  I got on the scale today and have successfully dropped 10.2lbs in 12 days! Awesome!!!

A few days ago I woke up feeling a complete lack of motivation to keep going.   I had no desire to go to the gym and barely wanted to stay on my very organized plan of healthy eating - I am using an amazing phone app/website myfitnesspal.com to help me keep track of eating, exercise etc.  I feared that if I lost my "head" I would fall off the wagon and not even be able to say I made it two weeks.  But something inside of me said, "Ok, just go through the motions today and maybe the motivation will come back tomorrow.  You don't have to be jazzed every minute of this to still be successful."  So I ate my egg breakfast sandwich with fruit and then strapped on my sneakers got the little guy ready and headed over to the gym for 35 minutes of elliptical butt kicking.  While I was sweating it up at the gym I thought maybe I will feel so good after doing this that my motivation and excitement will come back - it didn't.  I got done with my workout and headed home and still felt like I just didn't want to have to work to lose all this weight anymore.  So I sat for a good portion of the rest of the day.  My son and I played trains, and watched Annie, and had a little picnic in the backyard, and I fell asleep putting him down for his nap.  I just felt uninspired.  BUT I just stayed on track, I ate the calories I was allotted for the day - which are really plenty to eat food I like and are satisfying - and then I called it a day.  I woke up the next morning hoping, wishing, praying I'd be excited about feeling better and losing weight but I only felt a little better.  then i realized something... I don't need to be jazzed to stay on track and do a good job, I will still lose weight, and in REAL LIFE you don't wake up feeling pumped about going through the motions every day.  I also told myself that I only had two more days until I got to weigh in to see what my progress had been and that was kind of exciting albeit nerve wracking.

So I got through the first unmotivated hump.  This morning I woke up after a great night of sleep and was excited to drop my jammies on the floor and get on the scale.  I was pumped to see that I had lost 4lbs since last Saturday and 10.2lbs overall!  That has me energized again!  And tomorrow if I don't feel like working toward this then I just let my brain take a break, use my calorie counter and go through the motions.  THIS IS HOW I'M GOING TO KEEP THE WEIGHT OFF FOREVER!!  YES!

Now for what's going on this weekend.  Tomorrow my little man turns 3!  Holy Moly - it has gone so fast!  Turning three is exciting - I can still just barely remember my third birthday so I know that from here on out we are creating more concrete lasting memories and that makes my heart feel full.  Its also fun because I can see the opportunities open up for P.  He's done some swimming lessons and gymnastics classes this month and the world gets bigger from there.  Once he's potty trained - we're working on it - he can do preschool and classes without mommy and have friendships instead of mommy playdate enforced relationships.  It's all very exciting for me and gives me such an amazing sense of purpose and pride.  THIS is why I'm getting healthy - I want to help him grow and become an amazing man and that will only happen if his mom remains alive and encourages the same health habits in him.

So along with a birthday comes a party... and cake.  "Cake Lady" cake to be exact.  This cake is so good.  I mean, my little sister had it as her wedding cake good, we order it for every party that requires a cake and its always a hit.  I'm going to have a piece today.  Then we are going to send every last crumb home with our guests so that there is nothing left to pick at all week.  I exercised today by mowing our hilly lawn and am a cleaning maniac so I will not feel guilty about it.  I will also add it to my program on myfitnesspal.com and it will just be part of what today is - a celebration of my sons life.  Next Tuesday is my birthday and there may be some stretching of the calories then too to celebrate my 28 years (and golden birthday) but likely it'll be a salad with a little extra yumminess on top like avocado and crispy crunchies, because that's what sounds good to me.  It's very exciting to be at this place at two weeks down and several more to go - I'm feeling energized today, tomorrow may be different but I will continue to stay on track as best I can and allow for splurges by upping the exercise or minimizing calories elsewhere.  :)

The water game...

Dieting and water go hand in hand.  Nutritionist, trainers, etc will all suggest ample amounts of water along with a balanced diet and exercise.  The trouble with water is that it makes you have to pee!  You add that with the fact that especially at the beginning of a diet/lifestyle change you are drop mad amounts of water weight and the bathroom becomes your new hang out spot.

Last Monday I really got to business and have found that I'm feeling really good about being on this healthy choices train.  I actually lost just under 8lbs in 7 days!!!  The second week is never like the first, so I'm hoping for a 3lb loss this week.  We'll see.  So needless to say I have been frequenting the restroom because of the water intake and water weight loss... good times.

Main thing I've learned about the water game is that you have to get all your water in before 2-3 hours before bedtime, if you don't you'll wake up in the night like a pregnant woman, so I've made it a point to cut off food by 7:15pm and drink by 8pm at the latest!

an object in motion stays in motion

so i've been avoiding the blog... surprise surprise.  i hate when i avoid because i'm not being successful... typical.  anyway i'm getting back at it, promise!

so the past several weeks have been spent staying somewhat active, but not intentionally active enough to lose any weight.  i also didn't do so great with my eating.  what i've learned time and again about reaching a goal is that i need to just get back on the horse and try again.  i've decided that my focus for the next two weeks will be on moving and getting exercise.  i have decided that every morning after my son and i get up and do the breakfast, rub the sleep out of our eyes routine, we'll head to the gym - he enjoys himself there because there's a big jungle gym thing to play on in the kid place.  i will do anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes of cardio and then we'll move on with our day.  i figure doing this first thing gets us out of the house and therefore is more likely to keep my motivation up for going out and doing things like swimming, playing at the park, etc.

i also have a stack of workout dvds that i would like to begin incorporating, but my fear of starting with those is simply how sore my body will be from them.  the food will come but in order to make this a natural part of my life i need to do it in stages... here's hoping!

promise i'll check back in much sooner.