I have switched my username

My new username is difwiz.  I have been trying to change it, but I had to create a whole new profile to do so.  So as of today, this blog is closed.  I have moved my entries to my new profile, so check it out!!

The Biggest Loser Bodybugg

I was watching The Biggest Loser last night and I noticed everyone had this thing on their arms.  At first, I thought it had something to do with a heart rate monitor, but the "Barbie" trainer (can you tell I like Jillian better? ) pulled up one contestant's daily stats online.  This little thing measures your calorie intake and calories exerted and tells you what your daily calorie deficit or excess is during the day.  How cool is that!  The device is kind of expensive...one website had it priced at $399 including 3 months of the internet site subscription.  I think before I lay down that kind of dough, I will need to do some more research or maybe find it on ebay.  It is a really neat concept though.  I could certainly use a tool like that in my weight loss arsenal.

Been gone for a while, but I'm back, 3.4 lbs heavier.

I have been wrestling with my weight for many, many, many, many years.  So many years that it makes me sick just thinking about all the lost opportunities and lost time that I spent feeling self-conscious.  I have been hovering right around 230 lbs for a while, but when I got back from vacation, I had gained 4 lbs.  That was over a month ago and those stubborn pounds are still there.

Last week, I started going to the gym at lunchtime, even though the whole process (travel, getting dressed, 30 minute workout, showering, dressing, and travel again) takes 90 minutes and my lunch is supposed to only be 60 minutes.  I'll figure something out to balance those extra 30 minutes in my work day.  Since I have been going to the gym, I have only eaten out once for lunch.  That is a double bonus for me, since I am trying to cut back on my expenses as well as my calories.  I have found that if I leave for the gym at 11:15 am, it is too early for me to be getting hungry, so I don't have the temptation to skip the gym and head for the local burrito joint.  Also, once I am done with my workout (which is usually a 2 mile run on the treadmill), I am feeling so good about myself and what I just did that I don't want to ruin it by eating out and instead really want to return to my desk and eat the lunch I packed for the day. 

I haven't really seen any weight change yet, but I am not too focused on that yet.  I think the important thing for me now is to direct my energy toward the changes in my behavior (gym at lunch and eating packed lunch) and making those changes stick.  I have a history of being really gung-ho about something, whether it is something to do with fitness or a change in diet, but I do it for about a week or two and then it is back to my old behaviors. Last week, I went to the gym 4 times.  This week, I am aiming for 3 times.  I went on Monday, but I couldn't go today because I forgot to wash my workout clothes from Monday.  Tomorrow, my DH will be out of town, so I will need to go home at lunch to let the dogs out (I have a golden mix - Tessa, and a Retired Racing Greyhound - Tully) so the gym is out of the question for tomorrow.  However, I am going to try to get up an hour early tomorrow and go for a run now that the weather here has cooled down some. 

I am glad I re-discovered extrapounds.com.  I like being able to put all my thoughts down by typing...when it comes to writing with a pen and paper, I somehow always lose the paper, but I won't lose my computer!